‘REBUILDING OUR LIVES WILL TAKE A VERY LONG TIME’

Mum’s seven-year-old son dies from undiagnosed brain tumour three days before his dad’s ‘suicide’

A MUM has spoken of her heartache after her seven-year-old son died from an undiagnosed brain tumour – days before her ex ‘took his own life’.

Abby Bartlett received a knock on the door of her Burslem home from a police officer who broke the devastating news of Corey Bartlett’s sudden death.

The youngster had seemed fit and healthy until he fell ill with a high temperature. He then collapsed on the bathroom floor and died as he was being flown by air ambulance to hospital on June 24.

Three days later the police called Abby, aged 43, to say her ex – Corey’s 46-year-old father Michael Bartlett – had been found dead. She is now desperately trying to rebuild her life for the sake of her 11-yearold son Ryan, as she seeks answers over what happened.

Abby, right, said: “Corey became ill on the Saturday with a temperature and sore throat so he was taken to the doctors and given antibiotics.

“He was fine on the Wednesday, but in the evening he said he couldn’t breathe and collapsed on the bathroom floor. It was Ryan who found him. An ambulance was called, but he died on the way to hospital.

“The post mortem then showed an undiagnosed brain tumour. It was pressing on his brain. He had no headaches or any other symptoms. It was a ticking time bomb – totally unexpected.

“It was such a shock to find out as Corey was such a healthy, fit young boy. He was a really active child. He had his appendix out, but that’s the only time he’d been ill.

“The only difference recently was that his behaviour had become more challenging. I’d taken him to the paediatrician as he’d been lashing out but they said he was fine. They just shrugged it off.

“When you asked him what was wrong he would say ‘I don’t know mummy’. He was definitely stressed about it. I need to get to the bottom of what happened. We don’t yet know if the tumour was malignant or benign.

“They still need to take some samples, which could take another five to six weeks before we can bury him. I have a lot of unanswered questions.”

Abby had recently moved from her native Wiltshire to Stoke-on-trent. Her sons were due to join her in the next few weeks when the double tragedy struck.

Abby said: “His dad dying three days later was a huge shock. He had emailed to say he wanted to be with Corey.

“My older son Ryan is in pieces. He doesn’t know how to process what has happened. He’s very withdrawn. He’s finding it hard to express his emotions. He’s very quiet.

“I’ve had suicidal thoughts myself, but I have to keep going for him.

“When I see other children I wonder why it’s my Corey that has gone. I wouldn’t wish this on my worst enemy. I blame myself as I wasn’t there when it happened.

“My mum also passed away last September on holiday in Turkey. She had MS.

“We’d moved to Stoke-on-trent as a fresh start. It’s going to take a very long time to rebuild our lives.”

Paying tribute to Corey, Abby added: “He was like any other normal seven-year-old who would tear around the place on his scooter. He loved motorbikes.

“He also loved the beach and animals. He could always make me laugh. He was always saying funny things. At school he was always the class clown. He was cheeky and mischievous.

“He’s been taken away from me in the blink of an eye. I’m really struggling.

“I was given a memory box from the hospital and it had a lock of hair in. I was in tears for an hour.

“They also took his footprint, which I want to get tattooed on me using Corey’s ashes.”

Abby has now lunched a Justgiving page to raise money to give Corey the send-off he deserves. More than £700 has been pledged so far.

She added: “It will be a double funeral for both Corey and his dad. He loved Corey and vice-versa.

“Ideally, I want to get Corey a motorbike cavalcade. I bought him a helmet and he would wear it every day. It was his main passion.

“He never had the chance to ride one so I want a drive-by at his funeral.

“Anything left over from what’s raised will go to the air ambulance.

“I also want other parents to be aware that it could be a tumour if their child’s behaviour changes suddenly.

“Even Corey didn’t know why he was getting angry. It’s something to look out for.”