The boy who has lost his smile...

DANIEL with his mum Joanne at hospital

AN 11-year-old boy who was once "full of beans" has been robbed of the ability to smile or laugh after he was stricken with a rare form of brain cancer before Christmas.

Daniel Lord, who lived with his family in Hollins until August 2015, was a perfectly healthy boy until November, when one side of his face suddenly became paralysed.

Doctors initially diagnosed the lad with Bell's Palsy and said the facial problem would correct itself within 12 months.

But after a routine follow up appointment he was taken for a scan, a lump on his brain.

At the end of November Daniel went under the knife for an eight-hour operation at Newcastle's Royal Victoria Infirmary to remove the tumour.

His parents had to wait until mid-December to find out that it was actually Non-Hodgkin lymphoma with lymph node tissue on the brain.

Now living in Newbiggin by the Sea, in the North East, the youngster spent the whole of Christmas and New Year in Newcastle's Royal Victoria Infirmary, and is hoping to return home next month.

Daniel can only walk very short distances and has a nasogastric tube fitted in to feed him, as he has blisters all the way down to his stomach.

Mum Joanne (45) said she and husband Joe Broome (52) have been on "a rollercoaster of emotions".

She said: "Daniel's had two rounds of chemotherapy, with one round left.

"He's doing well but started to lose his hair. His face is a lot better. Back in November he couldn't move his eyes from side to side.

"He can't smile, he can't laugh. It has been a massive rollercoaster of emotions.

"You don't know every day to the next what life is going to bring.

"The school have been very supportive. They've asked for regular updates.

"They've sent work in which he's asked for. He loves maths and science.

"He was always such a fun-loving boy, he loved anything outdoors.

"He was full of beans until this happened.

"When he's poorly he's quiet and withdrawn. On a good day he still has his cheeky personality. He's dealing with it really well considering."

Daniel attended Oasis Academy Limeside and played football for Limehurst Lions until the family moved to the North East.

He still has relatives in Oldham, including his father and big brother, who try to visit as often as they can.

The hospital has kindly arranged for some accommodation on site so that he can receive visitors with little trouble.

Joanne, an A&E nurse, has had to take six months off work, as Daniel needs 24-hour care.

"I wanted to promote awareness of childhood cancer," Joanne said.

"Your everyday life is normal and the next minute it's not.

"You take one step in front, trying to support each other and Daniel and the other children.

"Everything is fuzzy. Doctors have explained everything but they have to tell you several times before it sinks in.

"It just changes your life so much.

"You don't realise having a child in hospital with a diagnosis like this turns your world upside down.

"But we have had a lot of support from strangers, feeding us and sending him get well cards."

Joanne will have her hair shaved off in solidarity with Daniel in March and donate the money raised to charity.

Friends of the family started a crowdfunder to help them over Christmas, but the page will stay up until they get £5,000, which will go towards anything Daniel might need for his recovery at home.

To help go to www.just giving.com/crowdfunding/kayleigh-brannon.