An Aberdeenshire dad who tragically lost his son last month has found new hope in an alternative treatment for his daughter, who is battling a rare form of cancer.
Gary Cox’s son Edward, a promising 19-year-old rugby star, died following an unexplained seizure last month.
The untimely death came just days after his sister Abigail, who was diagnosed with the bone condition Ewing’s Sarcoma in 2014, was given the go ahead to travel to America for a potentially life-saving treatment.
This was to be paid for by a fundraising campaign which raised £35,000 to cover her medical bills in less than 24 hours.
But after numerous tests and scans, Mr Cox and his family were tragically told that the clinic was unable to do anything to save her.
However, in a festive twist of fate Mr Cox has now found new hope to improve his daughter’s condition – Mistletoe Therapy.
The alternative treatment involves injecting the Christmas plant mistletoe into his daughter’s system.
Mr Cox said: “I keep closing my eyes and hoping it’s all a bad dream.
“It all makes no sense at all. We’ve lost one child and could face losing another. But this new development has brought hope for Abigail.
“It’s not a cure, but it will buy her more time and that’s a true blessing.
“As a dad, all I want is to make my daughter better.
“There isn’t a page of a book about cancer we haven’t turned, but not knowing anything about cancer, my hands are tied.
“I feel helpless because we need to leave it up to the doctors to find the answers.
“And we’re clinging on to the hope there is an answer out there, there’s got to be an answer.”
As well as the mistletoe therapy, the family is planning to explore other treatment options.
Last week, when Abigail should have been looking forward to Christmas, she was instead enduring a gruelling fourth round of chemotherapy.
Mr Cox said: “She looks so glamorous in her wig and make-up and puts on such a brave face, but underneath she’s a cancer victim.
“Thankfully, she’s having a welcome break from chemo for the festivities. It’s always been an important family time for us, and even more so now.”