More on KentOnline
More on KentOnline
When Jake Elphick-Cox started throwing up several times a day, his mum knew something was wrong. She never guessed he had a brain tumour the size of an avocado.
The brave 10-year-old was diagnosed with cancer in May and the family has "had the rug swept from under them", according to his mum Davina.
Jake had surgery to remove the tumour in his brain fluid, which had grown in just six weeks, within hours of seeing a doctor after he lost sight in one eye.
The football-loving lad has now had his first day back at Warren Wood Primary School, Rochester, and his friends baked cakes in his honour to help a cancer care charity.
The bake sale was part of the World's Biggest Coffee Morning, run by Macmillan Cancer Support - the Medway Messenger's charity of the year.
Jake, who lives in Chatham's Davis Estate with his mum, brother Joe and step-dad Colin Cox, said: "It feels nice that they're being so generous. Otherwise everyone just treats me normally. I missed maths the most. It's just nice to be back."
Jake is still weak due to the weight lost through his treatment. He can walk around school and home, but needs a wheelchair for longer distances.
His football club, Omega 92 under-11s, has paid for a trip to see his favourites Arsenal play Everton in December.
Jake's tumour was removed in July, but he has had chemotherapy and radiotherapy throughout the summer, at the Royal Marsden Hospital's cancer unit.
He will begin another intense course to remove any possible traces of cancer on October 10.
Mrs Cox, 38, said: "I tell him it's like having a graze after falling over in the playground. You have to clean the cut.
"You can't lie to children though. He knows what's going on. He knows without the treatment he's had, he wouldn't be here."
She said Jake's recovery so far has been "a miracle" and the only effect on his brain is that he cannot tie his shoelaces.
Mrs Cox said: "People might think Jake shouldn't be in the newspaper sick and with no hair - but he wants people to be aware of what he's going through. There are wards and wards full of children all going through the same thing. They're all cheeky and they're all smiling."
