Teen left paralysed and unable to walk after family holiday turns into nightmare

When the Shaw family set off to Spain for a sunny week away, they were eager for a much-needed break. The past year had been incredibly tough since their eldest son, Maison, was diagnosed with sarcoma, a rare cancer that can develop anywhere in the body.

The devastating diagnosis came after the 18-year-old began experiencing cramp-like pains and swelling in his leg. After enduring months of grueling treatment, the family, from Openshaw, Greater Manchester, decided to reward themselves with a trip to Almeria.

However, just three days into their holiday, a new nightmare began when Maison, an apprentice at a car rental company, started experiencing severe back pain. His mother, Zara, 37, initially thought he had simply pulled a muscle while playing with his four-year-old brother, Joel, in the pool.

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But when Maison’s stomach swelled and he lost all sensation in his feet, his family realised something was seriously wrong. It was soon confirmed that Maison had a collapsed lung and spinal compression, where pressure on the spinal cord affects nerve function, reports Manchester Evening News.

Heartbreakingly, further tests revealed an aggressive, fast-growing mass that hadn't appeared on scans before the trip. While the family anxiously awaits confirmation, doctors believe the cancer may have returned.

“We don’t understand how this happened so quickly,” said Zara, who works for the NHS. “His scans had shown no changes—they were all clear. It grew so fast.”

Maison, who had been fit and healthy, first noticed cramping in his leg while playing with a friend on New Year’s Eve 2023. When his leg became swollen, his family took him to the hospital. Initial scans and tests didn’t raise any concerns, and they were told it was likely a cyst that would resolve on its own.

However, as his pain continued and medication offered no relief, Zara, a mother of three, called 111 and was advised to take Maison to A&E. By then, blood circulation to his foot had been compromised, and doctors suspected compartment syndrome, a painful condition caused by pressure build-up around the muscles. Emergency surgery was performed to relieve the pressure.

After the operation, the family was informed that surgeons had removed a growth but assured them it didn’t appear sinister. Yet, during his recovery, Maison was unexpectedly called for a CT scan, followed by an MRI. By this point, Zara’s concerns were growing.

“As his mum, I just knew something wasn’t right,” Zara said. “I asked why, but no one could tell me anything.”

Maison was then diagnosed with sarcoma, a rare type of cancerous tumor that develops in bones and connective tissues like fat, muscle, blood vessels, and nerves. Although his condition is terminal, it can be managed and controlled with treatment.

Maison began chemotherapy at the end of January, followed by radiotherapy. After completing his treatment, the family decided to take a holiday in Spain for some well-deserved relaxation. His scans showed that his condition was stable, and doctors cleared him to fly.

“We were all so excited about the trip,” Zara said. “The first three days were amazing. Maison enjoyed relaxing and swimming, and he loved being able to have a pint now that he’s 18.”

But everything changed when Maison felt a sharp pain in his back after tossing his younger brother into the pool. “We thought he had just pulled a muscle or aggravated a nerve,” Zara said. “He stayed in the room the next day, but the pain got worse, so we went to the hospital.”

After a CT scan, Maison was sent back to the hotel with paracetamol. The next day, he couldn’t walk, and doctors had to visit the hotel to give him steroids. When his stomach started to swell, Zara called an ambulance, and they returned to the hospital. An MRI revealed a collapsed lung and spinal compression, and by then, Maison had lost the ability to move his feet.

Though surgery to relieve the pressure on his spine was successful, Maison remains partially paralysed and unable to walk. It is still uncertain whether his paralysis will be permanent. Doctors informed Maison that he wouldn’t be able to fly for a while, so the family decided to drive back to the UK over four days.

Reflecting on his journey, Maison said: “I was shocked at first. I just try to take it day by day. What happened in Spain has been the scariest experience of my life. I just want to get home, focus on my recovery, and hopefully regain my mobility and independence. I used to box, and this is one fight I’m determined to win.”

A fundraiser has been set up to help the family return to the UK and cover any home adaptations Maison may need. “I don’t think any of this will truly sink in until we’re back home and safe,” Zara added. “I’m trying to stay strong for Maison, but I know it’s going to be a long road ahead. The GoFundMe will help us get home and make any necessary adjustments for Maison’s recovery.”

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