Everton’s Jordan Pickford surprises eight year old fan after enduring a cancer battle while the youngster also deals with his Dad’s death.
Harry Garside, age eight, was only five when he was first diagnosed with sepsis and pneumonia with doctors at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital finding that he had eight centimetres of brain tumour.
The neurosurgeons removed 90% of the growth during nine hours of neurosurgery but sadly, just nine months later, the remaining tumour, which had been embedded in his central nervous systems, began to become active.
To get the cancer out, the schoolboy had 28 days of radiotherapy and was receiving treatment when his father, who was only 40 years old, unexpectedly died.
The young Evertonian decided to put his grief aside and continue his treatment.
Harry’s mum Laura wrote to Everton after this difficult time in her son’s life to tell Pickford about Harry’s extraordinary bravery and his love for the Premier League keeper.
This is Harry’s story. 💙
And it’s one we want to share with you… pic.twitter.com/zIoKfFu4As
— Everton (@Everton) March 15, 2023
EVERTON STATEMENT:
Jordan Pickford surprised his biggest fan Harry Garside after receiving a personal letter from the young Evertonian which shared the story of his recent tough journey.
At the age of five, Harry became critically ill and was diagnosed with pneumonia and sepsis. Subsequently, he was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital. There, it was discovered that Harry had an eight centimetre long brain tumour.
Harry bravely withstood nine hours of neurosurgery and doctors were able to remove 90 per cent of the tumour. The remaining part was embedded deeply into his central nervous system.
Unfortunately, nine months later that remaining part of the tumour became active again. As a result, Harry had to endure a future 28 days of radiotherapy treatment.
Tragically, as Harry’s treatment was nearing completion, his father passed away unexpectedly. The young Evertonian was forced to put his grief on hold to complete his treatment.
On the back of this difficult period in the eight-year-old’s life, Harry’s mum, Laura, wrote to Pickford to share the story of her son’s remarkable bravery and affection he holds for Everton’s and England’s No.1.
Pickford was inspired by Harry’s bravery and courage, and the young Evertonian was invited down to Finch Farm to meet his hero.
This is how social media users reacted as Everton’s Jordan Pickford surprises the eight year old fan after his cancer battle and Dad’s death…
@SmithLeedsUtd: Dear little man ❤️ All what he has been through 😢 Well done Everton, for making his dream come true 👏👏 💙💛 #LUFC #FootballFamily
@toffhibee: I hope something was done for the mum too she’s been through so much.
@PeterSimmoYNWA: Hard to hold the tears back watching this. What a lovely touch by Everton and their players. Great to see Harry’s story and recovery. Love to him and his family, from the Red half. 💙 ❤️
@Everton4eva: Bloody hell couldnt finish watching that, have to watch later at home as its dusty in work
@bluejohn68: Don’t know why everyone slags footballers off, professional footballers constantly give up their time like this. Well done Jordan Pickford, well done Everton, and well done to players at all clubs who make sick Children’s lives a little better.
@paulcefc: Cried my eyes out watching this! What an amazing boy. 💙
@PeterJMacca: That’s proper got me 💙💙💙 what an inspiration you are Harry, and what a lovely caring mum you’ve got! Absolute champion you are lad
@Kris1878efc: These are the things that our club gets right every time. Now, I’ve got to go, there’s something in my eye 💙
@KeeganBig: In bits watching that. No matter how much my club gets wrong there are some things it gets massively right.
@shmoo6619: Wow what a story that is. Brought me to tears. Well done to the team for spending time with this little legend 💙💪👍💙💪👍. Keep fighting Harry
@GeoffTalbot4: I’m 58 yrs old, and just watched this with tears in my eyes. What a truly inspirational young man harry is. To go through what he has at a young age is beyond belief. Sending love and hugs to harry,& his mum. Well done to Everton, for giving harry a day he won’t forget. 💙💙
@sloopjon_b: What a great gesture by the club and players,, proud we can do things right. To Harry and his mum both inspiring people who have gone through so much together 💙
@tubby_toffee: Proper full on crying sat at my kitchen table. That face when his hero walks in. Harry is my hero too.
@RedAlert1963: Well done to all at Everton FC who organised this for Harry. Also for all the players who went to see him to make his day extra special. Football has no colours for days like these. Absolutely brilliant and a day Harry & his Mum will never forgot. Nil satis ne optimum
@NormanPatt: What a wonderful kid and a super Mum, our Club did them proud, his face when Jordan Pickford came in, I was in bits 💙
@Ianc1878: What an inspiration had to face so much in such a short time true warrior 💙
@Pablo85988011: Finished me that what an incredible young man well in to Everton for making this little guys dreams come true 💙
@andcorn: What an amazingly brave, courageous and inspirational young man. Things haven’t gone great on the pitch this season but this is what we always do brilliantly off the pitch. Well done @JPickford1 @Everton
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