Mum's tribute to Crayford son who died from misdiagnosed brain tumour

Joshua Warner, 25, died on September 27 after being told in the first instance by doctors that his brain tumour was appendicitis and migraines.

His funeral will take place on October 13, as the community comes together to honour Josh’s life.

 Josh’s mum, Eve Pateman, told the News Shopper that Josh was an “amazing dad” and that it’s going to be so hard to see his four-year-old son now grow up without a dad.

Joshua Warner, 25, dies after his brain tumour is misdiagnosed (Image: Eve Pateman)

She said: “Josh was 25, he was dad to Andrew who has just turned four in July.

“He was funny, extremely funny, he was very kind, gentle, just a really lovely, lovely guy.

“He enjoyed spending time with family - we’re a really close knit family.

“He enjoyed spending time with his son and his brothers, who he has an amazing bond with.

“He passed away on September 17 which was ten days after we were told he had three months to live and 12 days after he’d had the biopsy on his brain.”

Josh went to Darent Valley Hospital five times with symptoms of headaches and sickness.

Joshua Warner, 25, dies after his brain tumour is misdiagnosed (Image: Eve Pateman)

He was diagnosed with appendicitis and had his appendix removed, but he later collapsed and was rushed to hospital again and within 24 hours he was diagnosed with a brain tumour.

Eve added: “The misdiagnosis has made it so much more difficult for us because, by the time we did get a full diagnosis for Joshua, it was too late for any treatment.

“Whereas if he had been diagnosed correctly, I’m not saying the outcome would have been any different – I don’t think it would have been - but I think there were missed opportunities from Darent Valley Hospital.

“We would have been able to at least get Joshua onto a trial or something to try and assist trials to help other people like Joshua.

“Joshua’s passing so quickly has made it difficult - I think it was 32 days after we knew he had a brain tumour that he died so I think the speed of that and then also learning since as a family how underfunded brain tumour research is.

“It has just become a real shock to our family.

Joshua Warner, 25, dies after his brain tumour is misdiagnosed (Image: Eve Pateman)

“I didn’t know anything about brain cancer before but pretty much only one per cent of national spend goes to brain tumour research and it’s the biggest killer of all cancers for people under 40-years-old which is pretty shocking.

“You’re more likely to survive a plane crash than you are a brain tumour.”

Brain Tumour Research currently has an online petition that must reach 100,000 signatures by October 31 for Parliament to hold a discussion about brain tumour funding.

Josh’s family are fighting to raise awareness and for people to sign the petition so that no one has to go through what Josh did again.

Eve added: “Josh did an interview with ITV two hours after he had his brain biopsy and that was because he just didn’t want anyone else to be misdiagnosed and he wanted to highlight to doctors that if someone is coming in with a headache and sickness they should be taken really seriously.

“I mean, we went to Darent Valley Hospital five times with Josh’s headache and sickness.

"They saw something on his CT scan but they said it was an anomaly with their machine.

“But then, when the A&E at QE compared their CT scan to Darent’s it was the same.

“So, they spotted what Darent had missed and I think it’s just frustration to us and, like I say, I don’t think the outcome would have been different but it would have given us more options.

“We didn’t have any options with Josh unfortunately.

“Apart from the brain tumour he was very fit and healthy, he was a six foot four guy, a strapping lad, and he had everything to live for.

“We’re just trying to get our heads round it and take every day as we can.

“Me and his dad and step dad, it’s hit us all very hard as a family because we are a really close family, but it’s also hit our community really hard.”

Eve and her family set up a fundraiser when they found out about Josh’s tumour, but he sadly didn’t make it to see the event unfold.

They raised £10,000 which will now go into a legacy fund for Josh’s son.

The family has also raised £20,000 through their Go Fund Me page, which will also go towards Andrew’s legacy fund.

Eve said that local people and local businesses have offered her “phenomenal” support in such a difficult time.

She added: “People whose houses Josh worked on all say what a lovely guy Josh was.

“He really was a great kid, I mean he was a 25-year-old man but he was my baby, he was my youngest of three.

“He was just a really nice guy, everyone has said how polite he was in their homes and they are just really shocked because it’s happened so quickly and it’s difficult for people to comprehend and get their heads round.

“Josh would laugh at all of this fuss because he wasn’t a fussy guy at all.

“It’s so difficult knowing Andrew’s going to grow up without his dad, he was just a great man.

“Josh so wanted no one else to be unheard again.

“He wanted to highlight brain tumour research. I have never known anyone be as strong as he was.

“Not once did he say ‘why me?’ and not once did he moan

“Greenwich and Bexley Hospice cared for Josh in the last seven days of his life and the care he received there – I can’t even describe it.

“Every interaction with my son was beautiful, they took such good care of him.

“We were there morning and night we stayed with him 24/7 that last week and I don’t know how these people do their jobs, the level of care they showed and the same with QE and King’s was absolutely amazing.

“It takes a very special person to do a job like that.”

A spokesperson for Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust said: “We are deeply saddened to learn of Mr Warner’s tragic death and offer his family our sincere condolences for their loss.

“After becoming aware of Mr Warner’s experience at Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust, we have taken immediate steps to understand what happened in order to address these concerns. 

“We are committed to providing high-quality care for all our patients and to learn from incidents such as these.”