A PROUD family has paid tribute to an inspirational little boy whose death has led to an outpouring of love from the rugby league community.
Joseph Doolan was diagnosed with a diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) brain tumour at the age of seven.
The brave schoolboy passed away, aged nine, earlier this month after battling the type of tumour his family was told no one has ever survived.
His parents, Amy and Ray, say that courageous Joseph showed people the real meaning of "strength and bravery".
Dad, Ray, was formerly on Saints' books and Joseph shared his passion for rugby league.
Despite living a 35-minute drive away in Southport, the talented youngster chose to play at Thatto Heath ARLFC, a team he adored.
This week his proud dad Ray, 41, spoke to the Star about the outpouring of love shown by the St Helens and wider rugby league communities since Joseph’s diagnosis 18 months ago and following his passing earlier this month.
He said: “Joseph had a number of symptoms we just weren’t happy with and his mum Amy kept pushing for him to be checked.
"When he had an MRI and CT scan it uncovered that he had a brain tumour no one can survive from - and, aged seven, he was given just six months to live.
“We didn’t want him to know that. He lived his life not knowing that and he fought hard undergoing radiotherapy to stunt the growth of the tumour and it did for 18 months.
“He never once complained, even when we knew he must have been in pain he always said he was OK.
“He absolutely loved rugby. I used to play for Saints and even though he played for a team in Southport where we live, he did a summer camp at Thatto Heath and never looked back really.
“We saw how much it meant to him to train there and be in St Helens where Saints are, so we made the effort and I’m so glad we did.
“After his diagnosis, he was told he couldn’t play rugby anymore, but he wasn’t having that.
“We knew he didn’t have long. We wanted to keep him safe but he just loved playing and he did do everything he could to get playing again and, like Amy said in her eulogy, on his first game back with Thatto Heath he scored 11 tries.
“I’m a private person really, but I feel OK talking about Joseph because even though it was horrible what he had to go through he was so strong and a little boy of nine taught so many people the real meaning of strength and bravery.
“He was my son and he’s my inspiration and to have the rugby league community pay tribute to him has meant so much.”
When Saints learned of Joseph and his story, they went above and beyond organising some incredible events for him.
One of Joseph’s favourite players, Konrad Hurrell, even travelled to the Doolan’s home in his own time to present Joseph with his playing shirt – a day Joseph described as being “better than Christmas”.
Rugby league tributes
Following Joseph’s death on April 14, Thatto Heath Crusaders held a minute's silence for their U9s player.
Other rugby league clubs across the region also fell silent as a mark of respect and others are planning similar tributes this weekend.
Meanwhile, Saints’ coach Paul Wellens also paid tribute to the youngster's courage in his post-match press conference against Huddersfield.
'He stole the hearts of nurses'
In an eulogy delivered at Joseph's funeral earlier this week, his mum Amy described the immense courage her son displayed and how he was a boy grateful for the simple things in life.
She said: "Joseph completed his first course of radiotherapy at Clatterbridge. He quickly stole the hearts of the nurses who worked there as he educated them all about rugby and Star Wars and chose his playlist of his favourite songs to listen to whilst he had his treatment.
"He never once moaned or complained about the way he was feeling. At all of his check-ups he would always put his thumbs up to the doctors and say 'I’m good'. He just got on with it.
"He became known as ‘The Legend’.
"After he had finished his treatment and because he had been so brave me and his dad said to him 'you can have anything you want Joseph'.
"We said: 'We will take you to Smyths and you can pick whatever you like or if there is anywhere in particular you would like to go on holiday we will take you. What would you like?'
"Joseph thought about it for a minute and his answer was: 'I would just really like to go somewhere that has a nice log fire that I can sit by and have a nice cup of tea'.
"So that’s what we did, we booked a little cottage in the Cotswolds with a log fire and we have a lovely picture of Joseph stood by it enjoying his cup of tea.
"And again that was just Joseph he never wanted for anything big, he was always grateful for the simple things in life.
"Joseph once said to me: 'If you have a roof over your head, food on the table and a family that loves you, you have everything!'"
'He wouldn't give up'
Amy described the family's pride when Joseph returned to play rugby with his team-mates after having radiotherapy, adding: "The doctors said that Joseph may not be able to play rugby again but following his radiotherapy Joseph said to us that he was missing rugby and wanted to go back playing it.
"Even though the side effects from the radiotherapy and his medication were affecting his mobility, balance and energy levels Joseph was determined to go back and play.
"He started to set himself little goals and aims and within three months he had gone from not being able to run at all to running laps around the sports field.
"He was determined and he wasn’t about to give up either!
"He went back playing rugby league, and even though he only managed to play about 6/25 games and he was playing post radiotherapy and with a brain tumour, in his first match back he scored 11 tries and statistically he still came out as one of the few top try scorers at the end of his second season.
"Because Joseph was well enough again for a period of time we were able to enjoy some lovely holidays and experiences together as a family.
"Joseph extended his life expectancy to 18 months. He always did his best and he did his best with this."
'We will forever be grateful'
Amy also praised the medical teams and charities which supported the family, adding: "We will be forever grateful to Joseph's Dr, Dr Hayden and the oncology nurses and palliative care team who cared so well for Joseph.
"Also for the generosity of the Alder Hey children’s charities, CHICS, the Barry Wells trust, Claire House, and the make a wish foundation who all created such wonderful, memorable experiences for Joseph and our family.
"Through these charities we have made some really happy memories with Joseph that we will hold so dear to us and cherish forever."
Outpouring of love
Meanwhile, the parents offered thanks to the people of St Helens and the rugby league community for their support, with Ray adding: “It meant a lot how the community came together for us like this, we found out that over the weekend teams across the North West who played had a minute's silence for him.
“He was only nine but in the short time he was here I think he did make a difference to people.
"His death has highlighted how caring the rugby league community can really be, regardless of team.
READ: Tribute to 9-year-old rugby player who died from brain tumour
"Southport is a football town, but St Helens has a rugby heart and it really has shown that by the outpouring of love we’ve been shown.
“I wish Joseph was still here, but if anything positive can be taken from this I hope it is that he’s shown people to never give up, and how kind people really can really be – especially in the rugby league community.”
At the request of Joseph's family, the Star is including details for the signs of DIPG brain tumours, as the family hope to raise awareness of the condition so others can be diagnosed sooner.
According to Brain Tumour Research, the following are potential symptoms of brain tumours.
If you have concerns, always seek advice from a medical professional.
The symptoms of a brain tumour will depend upon which part of the brain is affected. The most common symptoms are caused by an increase in pressure in the skull (intracranial pressure) caused by the growth of a tumour in the brain.
Some of the common warning signs of a brain tumour include:
Symptoms:
- Headaches: Frequent or severe headaches, especially if they are worse in the morning or wake you up from sleep
- Nausea and vomiting: Persistent nausea and vomiting may be a sign of increased pressure within the skull
- Vision problems: Blurred or double vision, loss of peripheral vision, or seeing flashing lights or colours
- Seizures: New onset seizures in an adult, especially if they occur without a known cause or with a headache
- Weakness or numbness: Weakness or numbness in an arm or leg or on one side of the face or body
- Speech difficulties: Difficulty speaking, slurring words, or trouble finding the right words to say
- Cognitive changes: Confusion, memory loss, and difficulty concentrating
For more information go to braintumourresearch.org
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