Doctors think 8-year-old just has toothache
Early Signs and Misdiagnosis
Eight-year-old Ethan Adams from South Shields, England, complained of a toothache.
His parents took him to a dentist, who noted swelling likely caused by an infection.
Ethan “became upset” thinking it was his fault for not brushing his teeth.
The Devastating Discovery
When the swelling worsened, Ethan was taken to a hospital, where doctors discovered tumors on his brain and spine.
He was diagnosed with a rare cancer called Rhabdomyosarcoma, which affects only about 55 children in the UK each year.
Treatment and Loss
The cancer had spread to his lungs and bone marrow.
Ethan underwent aggressive chemotherapy and radiotherapy but sadly passed away at age 9.
“Our world fell apart,” his father Mark said.
Legacy and Advocacy
Ethan’s parents criticized the treatment as “embarrassing” and outdated.
They started a fundraiser aiming for $62,000 to support research, saying,
“We don’t want other families to have to go through what we’ve had to go through.”
