Yahoo News Newcastle Comic Con taken over by 11-year-old with rare condition - as John Barrowman offers his support
Newcastle Comic Con had a very special guest - an 11-year-old with an extremely rare condition, as John Barrowman offered his support. Milo Browne and his family from North Shields were given the VIP treatment at the convention, as well as raising money in the process.
Milo suffers from a rare degenerative condition that is so unique it is known only as M3BHA. The condition causes Milo to suffer from seizures and respiratory problems and he is unable to talk or eat, sit or stand without being fully supported, so he needs 24 hour care.
Sadly, Milo's health declined towards the end of 2022 and his parents, Stephen Browne and Laura Davidson, faced difficult conversations as they fought to keep him alive, deciding to bring him home on palliative care. However, over a full year later, Milo is defying the odds and was able to attend Comic Con at the Utilita Arena.
Read more: Inside Comic Con in Newcastle - with celeb guests John Barrowman and Craig Charles at Utilita arena
While they were at the event, Milo and his family met a host of famous faces, including Craig Charles, Robert Llewellyn and Danny John-Jules from the TV show Red Dwarf, and actor and presenter Warwick Davis. It was John Barrowman, famous for his roles in Doctor Who, Torchwood and Arrow, that made the biggest impact on Milo and his family, as he selflessly helped to sell raffle tickets to patrons of the event, with the proceeds going to Stephen and Laura's charity, Milo's Mission.
The actor's generosity didn't end there however, as he used his own money to round the fundraising up to £1,000. Milo's dad, Stephen Browne, said: "With help from Andy, who organises these events, we were able to make memories as a family that we will never forget, and meet some famous people that we could never have dreamed of.
"Everyone was fantastic, but John Barrowman is a saint, as he took a genuine interest in Milo and our situation and he selflessly helped us to fundraise while we were there. One thing that will always stay with me is that he said, 'you are not just a normal dad, you are special' and we will always be grateful for what he has done for us.
"Milo is a true superhero, in every sense of the word, as he has constantly proved everyone wrong and kept fighting, which makes us feel determined to make sure that he has a lasting legacy. We just want to show people how amazing our boy is and we will never stop working hard to make life better for other people in the same situation as us, in his honour."
To donate to Milo's Mission, visit his family's GoFundMe page here.
