Paramedics’ son is facing second fight with cancer
A PARAMEDIC couple who have worked through the pandemic are asking people to support a cancer charity after their son was diagnosed with a brain tumour, for the second time.
Matthew Pullan, 19, was first diagnosed with a brain tumour at just three years old.
He lost his mum Claire, 36, to breast cancer a few years later.
Despite all this, Matthew recovered and is currently working towards his A-levels as he aims to get to university.
But this year has been perhaps the toughest of his life.
As his dad Gary, 41, and stepmum – also called Claire – worked on the frontline through the pandemic, Matthew started to suffer headaches.
A checkup at The Christie revealed a brain tumour – completely unlinked to the one he suffered as a child.
After surgery last July, Matthew’s high-grade brainstem tumour is being managed with radiotherapy and chemotherapy at The Christie in Withington.
Now, with the help of his family, the Bury College pupil has decided to put everything he can into raising money for the charity Brain Tumour Research.
“It’s been a really tough time all of us,” Matthew said.
“We were all devastated when we discovered I had another brain tumour but dad was particularly shaken, having lost my mum to for cancer eight years ago.”
Claire, 43, who has appeared on the BBC’s Ambulance documentary series with Gary, says she is incredibly proud of Matthew. Explaining how his tumour was spotted she says: “He had just been getting a few headaches, but it was hot so I was asking if he’d been drinking enough water. He’s a runner and he kept tripping up, but he’s always been quite clumsy anyway.”
Gary, Claire and Matthew – along with his twin brother Alex, brother Mark, 15, and stepbrother Samuel, 12 – are all helping Brain Tumour Research celebrate its Wear A Hat Day campaign. The charity is paying tribute to key worker families, like the Pullans, who have played a pivotal role throughout the coronavirus pandemic.
“Matthew gets a lot out of trying to do things for other people which is why he’s encouraged us to do this fundraising with him,” Claire says.
● To register to take part in Wear A Hat day visit www.wearahatday.org