A Family’s Fight Against DIPG

Parenting / 24 January, 2025 / Ellie Thompson

Abigail Derr from Young Lives v Cancer sits down with Jamie and Ellie Thompson to share their heart-wrenching yet powerful story, Billy the Brave: A Family Fight Against DIPG. In this episode, Jamie and Ellie open up about their son Billy’s diagnosis with DIPG, a terminal brain cancer, and the five-month battle that followed.

Billy The Brave: A Family’s Fight Against DIPG

They discuss the first symptoms that raised alarm, the pivotal moment that took them to A&E on 7th November 2023, and the shattering reality of being told their son wouldn’t survive. Together, they reflect on the challenges of radiotherapy, the emotional toll of steroids, and how they clung to hope amidst devastating blows.

This is a conversation about resilience, love, and raising awareness of DIPG—a fatal disease that’s poorly understood, underfunded and under-researched. Join us as we honour Billy the Brave and the Thompsons’ fight to make a difference as they launch Billy’s Battalion and plan for their next fundraising event, Billy’s Bash: A Family Funday.

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Abigail Derr

Abby Derr is a Young Lives vs Cancer Specialist Social Work Senior Practitioner based in London. In her role, she supports children and young people with cancer, and their families, to navigate the impact cancer can have on the whole family, from finances to being away from school and home. Abby received her master’s degree in Pennsylvania and has previously worked in the States as a hospice and palliative care social worker.

Abby has worked in medical social work since 2008 and most recently began working in oncology social work from 2019, when she moved to the UK and began working with the charity.

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