Dad given devastating diagnosis after suffering from water infections

A dad "who has helped everyone" was told he had prostate cancer after suffering from water infections. John Sorenson, 63, had started feeling tired all the time, his muscles were aching and he found himself hurting constantly from water infections.

The 63-year-old, from Old Swan, went to his doctors in 2021 but later put off appointments due to the covid pandemic. Although he thought it wouldn't "be anything to worry about," his symptoms never vanished. John went for an appointment in September 2023 and was told the devastating news he had prostate cancer.

His niece, Carolyn Scott, 43, told the ECHO how cancer was the “last thing” on John’s mind. She said: “When he got the call from the doctors, it [cancer] was the last thing on his mind. He didn't think for one minute he was going to get this news.”

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John, who has two sons Harry and Michael, told his family about the diagnosis. Carolyn said: “Everyone just falls in love with him, the things he and his wife do for other people is unbelievable. I left school with nothing and it was him who told me to go to college. I've done alright with my career because of him, it’s been heart breaking for everyone.

“Even now you can see how much pain he's in but he won’t stop being there for his kids and everyone else. They're [John and his wife Claire, 52] are so strong and because they have the two lads who are so dependent on them, he is taking everything in his stride. That’s just the way he is, he has always helped people. John and his wife, Claire, have been helping people throughout their lives.”

John and Claire founded the Liverpool Autistic Children's Alliance charity after both of their sons were diagnosed with autism at a young age. They have helped hundreds of families over the years. John has always been a huge influence in his local youth club, The Bronte Centre, where he has helped children, teenagers and families.

Carolyn, from Kirkdale, said: “The list is endless for the amount of people John and Claire have helped over the years. He has been doing all of this while providing the utmost care to his sons, who absolutely idolise him.”

Carolyn has set up a GoFundMe page to help support John and his family through his cancer battle. She is asking people to help the “man who has helped everyone.”

Carolyn said: “John has started treatment but after his second round of radiotherapy we received the bad news that John's cancer has spread to his lungs and stomach. He started his first round of chemotherapy today (November 20) and has also been offered private treatment, but it’s going to cost £10,000.

“John and Claire have agreed not to share the news with their sons because it will cause them too much stress and anxiety. John has agreed to undergo a treatment that will hopefully prevent him from losing his hair, which was his fear because he didn’t want it to frighten his kids if he lost his hair.”

His wife, Claire, is now giving round the clock care to John and their two boys and any funds raised for the family will go towards John’s treatment and supporting the family financially.

Carolyn added: “We're also raising awareness for prostate cancer, I’m doing everything I can but I can't do it on my own.” You can donate to the GoFundMe page for John and his family, here.