A YOUNGSTER diagnosed with cancer has seen the community rally round to help his family move into a new home which is more suited to his needs.

Mason Mackenzie is a seven-year-old boy from Wallyford whose biggest love in life is Sonic the Hedgehog.

In February, during a visit to A&E, mum Carly mentioned that Mason sometimes suffered from headaches.

She accepted the offer of a scan, predominantly for peace of mind, as he did not present with any other symptoms.

Two days later, Carly received a call from the hospital asking them to visit that day as something had been found on Mason’s scan.

After a discussion with the oncology team, they shared that the scan showed a brain tumour on Mason’s left side.

Mason was diagnosed with cancer earlier this year (Image: Contributed)

Mason was back in hospital the following week to have further blood tests done, more intensive scans, and a lumbar puncture procedure.

Carly told the Courier: “It was classed as incidental. He had no symptoms, we found it randomly – it’s a miracle really that we found it so early.”

Without intervention, Mason would likely have lost his vision within a few months.

On March 20, Mason underwent major brain surgery and was in the operating theatre for eight and a half hours.

They soon received the pathology results following tests of the tumour, and Mason was diagnosed with a grade 3 choroid plexus carcinoma – a rare and aggressive type of malignant cancer.

Carly described how ever since it had been “all-go” as their lives turned upside down and Mason was faced with gruelling treatments, including six months of chemotherapy. 

Mason has spent a lot of time in hospital since his diagnosis

In June, Carly received a call from Scott Wylie, owner of Tranent-based construction company Fat Boy Skims.

Scott was undertaking a new 'Making Dreams Come True' project, during which he planned to provide a bedroom makeover to someone deserving in East Lothian.

He heard Mason’s story and instead decided to help the pair to move into a new house which would be better adapted for his needs.

Scott worked to organise tradesmen, businesses and individuals together to make this possible.  

After learning that Mason was autistic and loved the sensory room in the hospital, they also decided to create one in the new home.

Carly paid for the work but some companies offered discounts on supplies and services.

A dozen businesses contributed to the project, helping in many areas including installation, decorating, plumbing and flooring.

They worked together to adapt the new house in Elphinstone to be perfectly suited for Mason’s needs.

The pair made the move from Wallyford to ElphinstoneIt has more space for medical equipment and nurses to visit and unlike, in the last home, the driveway does not have steps which are difficult to manage in his wheelchair – Mason also suffers from severe fatigue as a result of the gruelling treatments.

Most excitingly for Mason, his bedroom is now covered in everything related to Sonic the Hedgehog. 

Mason's newly decorated bedroomCarly and Mason moved into the new house in mid-August and Carly said that it had already made “a huge difference” to them.

Mason's newly decorated bedroom is filled with Sonic the Hedgehog items (Image: Contributed)

She added: “Changes in his routine are very difficult but it will be better in the long run."

Scott also set up a fundraiser to support Carly with costs associated with Mason’s journey: donate at gofund.me/565cccdf