Mason: My Super Sonic Survivor

23/05/2026

Before my child’s cancer diagnosis, I knew how to function.

I could juggle life, organise the chaos, remember things, concentrate. My brain felt like mine.

Now? I genuinely feel like I’ve developed ADHD overnight.

My brain never switches off.
I walk into rooms and forget why I’m there.
I start ten things and finish none.
I can’t process simple information when I’m overwhelmed.
I lose things constantly.
Noise feels unbearable.
I struggle to concentrate on conversations.
I’m forgetful, overstimulated, emotionally reactive and permanently exhausted.

And then there’s the extreme hypervigilance. The constant scanning for danger. The feeling that if I relax for even a second, something terrible will happen again.

But here’s what I’ve learned. PTSD and trauma can mimic many ADHD symptoms - difficulty concentrating, forgetfulness, emotional dysregulation, executive dysfunction. When your brain has spent months or years in survival mode, it changes the way you think, process and function.

We talk a lot about the physical impact of childhood cancer on a child. But not enough about what it does to the brains and nervous systems of the parents living it alongside them.

Trauma changes you. Not just emotionally…cognitively too.

I’m learning to give myself grace for the version of me that exists after survival mode. Because when your brain has spent so long trying to keep your child alive, it doesn’t just magically learn that it’s safe again.

If this is you too - you’re not broken and you’re not losing your mind. Your brain is just still trying to keep you safe ❤️

20/05/2026

Edinburgh Rugby have announced that Friday's Change the Game fixture against Connacht at Hive Stadium helped raised an incredible £72,495.25 for Official Charity Partner It's Good 2 Give — smashing the club's landmark £70,000 target and bringing the total raised in 2025/26 alone to £22,585.61.

18/05/2026

What made Friday even more meaningful was a beautiful gesture from Darcy’s mum, Leah. She kindly gifted Mason a t-shirt and hat from their family-run business, Raphael Clothing 🪽🖤

This meant so much to us, not just because of the kindness shown, but because of the story behind the brand itself.

Raphael Clothing was born out of one of the most devastating and life-changing moments a family can face. In January 2021, their youngest son Clark suffered a severe traumatic brain injury following a serious accident. He spent weeks in a coma and months in hospital, having to relearn how to walk, talk, and live again. At one point, they were told he may never recover the life he once had.

As a family, they helped Clark rebuild not just his strength, but his sense of purpose—by creating something together that carried meaning through the pain. What started as survival, hope, and healing eventually became a clothing brand built on resilience and love.

They named it “Raphael” after the Archangel Raphael—the angel of healing. A symbol of protection in life’s darkest moments, and a reminder that even when everything feels broken, healing is still possible in ways you don’t expect.

That meaning resonates deeply with us. Our own journey with Mason has been filled with challenges, uncertainty, and moments where hope has been everything.

So to receive this gift, from one family who understands resilience to another, carried a weight far beyond clothing. It felt like kindness passing between people who truly understand what it means to fight for light in difficult times.

We are incredibly grateful to Leah, Darcy, and the entire family for their generosity, their story, and the love behind what they do.

If anyone would like to support or learn more about their journey, their website is: https://raphael.clothing

Moments like this stay with you forever—not because of the event itself, but because of the humanity, compassion, and connection behind it.

16/05/2026

Some footage from Mason’s interview with Darcy Graham & the game last night - look at his smile! He had the best time 🤩🏉💚 Edinburgh Rugby It's good 2 give Premier Sports

16/05/2026

To top it all off last night, Darcy Graham gave Mason his scrum cap at the end of the game — such a kind gesture and the perfect ending to an unforgettable day. Mason said: “if I need to have another brain surgery at least I can wear this and be cool like Darcy! 🥹”

Thank you Darcy for being amazing and making this little boy super happy! These moments seeing happiness on his face mean more than anything 💚🏉

16/05/2026

15/04/2026

What an evening for Mason! 🏉

He was invited along to the Edinburgh vs Connacht game — the last game of the season and his very first proper rugby match experience! Even more special, it was all in support of the amazing charity It's good 2 give ❤️

Mason absolutely smashed it doing an interview with Darcy Graham 🤩 He got to enjoy it with his friends, meet some of the players, collect signatures, and make memories he’ll never forget.

A little part of the interview below for anyone who missed it ⬇️

https://x.com/premsportstv/status/2055355499659375093?s=46&t=1OR6vxuTogGgcodtKJTQ4g

So proud of him! 💙🏉

13/05/2026

Until you have lived this, you really do not know why we ask for what we do and why I spend 16 hours a day fighting.

This was my life for days on end when Hugh was being treated. A pull-down bed. A laptop. Headphones. Takeaways. Urine bowls used to store Lego pieces because you make do with whatever is around you. And worse than all of that… a child fighting for their life no more than six inches away from you.

Our beds practically touching through the night. No room for nurses to squeeze past without nudging you awake at 3am. No privacy. No switch off. No escape. Just machines, fear, exhaustion and survival.

And every night, holding his hand while he fell asleep because he was scared. Trying to be strong enough for him, while inside you were falling apart yourself.

And the thing people do not always understand is this was often unplanned. This wasn’t a scheduled stay where you mentally prepared yourself. This was a temperature of 38 degrees at 10pm when you are getting ready for bed thinking life might feel normal for one night. Then boom… three days in hospital because of infection risk.

This became our world. And it still is for so many parents tonight.

So I ask again… what would you do if it was your child?

Would your world collapse? Would you feel like curling up and dying some nights? Would you do absolutely anything to take the pain away from your child?

Because that is why we campaign. That is why we push for better mental health support. That is why we ask for Hugh’s Law and Hugh’s Report.

Not for sympathy. For humanity.

12/05/2026

Absolutely honoured to have Darcy Graham playing for Mason at the game on Friday!!! It's good 2 give 💙

05/05/2026

Go Gray In May for brain tumour awareness month 🩶🎗️🩶

Go gray in may! Meet Mason.
Mason was only 7 years old when in the beginning of 2024, he had a routine optician’s appointment. It was brought up that Mason had been experiencing headaches and feeling unusually tired. It was just suggested to continue to keep an eye on him. A week after this, Mason woke up with horrific neck pain, he was screaming and unable to move. He was sent to the doctor where he was misdiagnosed with Torticollis and was told that “he would be fine in a few days with ibuprofen”. The appointment ended with his doctor suggesting an MRI just to be safe. Scans then revealed that Mason had a tumor located on the left side of his brain. Due to the tumor location doctors warned his mom that had the cancer not been caught when it did, if it had even grown 1 millimeter more, Mason would’ve likely developed seizures, lost his vision, his mobility on his right side as well as his speech. Mason soon was diagnosed with Stage 3 Choroid Plexus Carcinoma. He had to undergo a major 8 hour brain surgery to remove the tumor on March 20th, 2024. Following this, Mason began aggressive chemotherapy in April. He was able to ring the bell to signify the end of treatment on December 17th, 2024, and as of now he remains in remission!
Although Mason is now in remission, his most recent MRI has shown a new growth in the same area as his previous tumor. Right now, not much is known but his family are hoping for the best as they await further tests and imaging.


FB: Mason: My Super Sonic Survivor

03/05/2026

Mason attended the charity motor show event today run by Scottish Road Runners 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 at Conifox Adventure Park raising funds for Edinburgh Children's Hospital Charity & Brain Tumour Research 💛❤️🎗️

As always - happy to be a part of any fundraising events for these incredible charities. Raising awareness matters 🤜🏻🤛🏻✨