Heartbroken mum crowdfunding to make ‘special memories’ with baby boy diagnosed with terminal cancer

A heartbroken mum is currently crowdfunding so that she can make “a few final special memories” with her baby boy, who has just weeks to live.

Jacob Mortimer was diagnosed with a brain tumour in February 2021 and mum Andrea Mortimer, 41, from Penrith, Cumbria, says her world “imploded” after she found out it was terminal three months later.

Andrea, who has four other children, said her youngest, Jacob, was “healthy and happy” for the first six months of his life after being born in July 2020.

She added: “He was just like any other baby, a little bundle of joy.”

Andrea first sought medical help on 3 February this year after Jacob began vomiting a lot and stopped eating his food.

She says a doctor quickly identified swelling in Jacob’s head and sent him for an ultrasound, which revealed fluid on the brain.

On 9 February, Andrea and her husband David Mortimer, 44, were told Jacob had a type of tumour that begins in the brain or spinal cord called an Atypical Teratoid Rhabdoid Tumour

Andrea said: “It was heart-breaking to hear the diagnosis, my world imploded. I just thought ‘why us?’”

“All my thoughts went to Jacob and what we could do to help him.”

‘We need to make the most of every day we have together’

In late May, experts told Andrea that Jacob had “a few months” to live and with his first birthday coming up on 29 July, Jacob’s family are crowdfunding to pay for a party and some extra special moments in the next few weeks.

Andrea said: “I was hoping Jacob would survive until Christmas but the doctors said there was no chance so we’re focusing on his birthday.

“We want to raise a bit of money so that we can have a really special day and then maybe take Jacob on some days out too.

“There isn’t long left now so we need to make the most of every day we have together.”

She added: “The whole ordeal has been heart-breaking but Jacob has been a little warrior the whole time.

“I want to make a few final special memories with him before he goes.”

Andrea said that if they are able to raise some money the family hopes to “make some special memories together,” including a big party for Jacob’s birthday at the end of July.

To make a donation, visit the ‘Making memories with Jacob’ GoFundMe page.