A little boy living with a brain tumour joined a team of young farmers in bringing a cute cluster of animals to meet shoppers in Romford and fulfil one of his wishes.
Bailey Merritt, who started hospital radiotherapy last week for his stage four tumour, spends most weekends helping look after animals at Wellgate Farm in Hainault.
The farm organised a “wish day” fundraiser for him at Romford’s Mercury shopping centre earlier this month, where open-hearted shoppers gave £415 towards his wish-list to go to Disneyland Paris.
The 11-year-old from Collier Row was introducing shoppers to the lambs and rabbits from the community farm.
“It’s been the best day of my life,” he said.
Bailey, who goes to New Rush Hall School in Barkingside, was with his mum Samantha and older brother and sister and friends at the shopping centre.
Samantha spends the week at University College Hospital with her son for his radiotherapy.
“Bailey is my special child put on this earth to help others,” she told the Recorder.
“You never forget him if you meet him. He’s bright, very active, on the go all the time, always joking.
“Once you meet him it leaves something on your heart because he’s so caring and loving. I wouldn’t change my life for anything else.”
Bailey fell ill in 2022 after being diagnosed with autism when he was nine.
He was taken to Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital to be treated for headaches and hallucinations caused by what was later discovered to be a virulent brain tumour.
He has had constant fluid draining therapy as part of his treatment but has also been partially losing his sight and sense of touch, according to his mum.
“Bailey communicates well with animals but not to other children,” the 49-year-old former school catering worker revealed. “He doesn’t do gaming or things like football — but is a very special child.
“He finds animals calming, nurturing them when he goes to the farm.”
The family wants to raise enough on their GoFundMe page to take Bailey to Disneyland Paris when his month-long radiotherapy treatment has finished.
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