FIVE years ago this week, a little boy whose life was saved by the wrong football boots had seen his greatest wish come true when he played a starring role at his mum and dad’s wedding.
Hayley, Steven and Robert Haswell, of Chester-le-Street, at the wedding made possible by a secret wish (56241006)
The Northern Echo’s report on the magical wedding
Seven-year-old Robert Haswell, from Chester-le-Street, was ring-bearer at his parents’ wedding after a children’s charity made his dream came true.
Robert was diagnosed with a form of kidney cancer when he slipped playing football and was taken to hospital suffering from a pain in his side.
His parents feared he had cracked a rib, but instead doctors found a lump which turned out to be an early stage Wilms’ tumour.
Because it was caught in time, Robert was able to have successful treatment for the cancer, undergoing chemotherapy and having his right kidney removed.
Mum Hayley Haswell said: “The silly thing is, I gave Robert the wrong boots to wear that evening.
"Robert tells me that I saved his life that day by giving him the wrong boots.”
When the Starlight Children’s Foundation charity offered to grant Robert's one wish, Hayley told him to think of something he really wanted.
She said: “When I came back to see what he’d chosen, I was surprised to see that he’d drawn a picture of Steven and I holding hands and had asked for mummy and daddy to be together forever."
Also that week, Boro commentator and radio host Alastair Brownlee lost his battle with cancer.
Hayley, Steven and Robert Haswell, of Chester-le-Street, at the wedding made possible by a secret wish (56241006)
The Northern Echo’s report on the death of Alistair Brownlee
The then 56-year-old who became known as "The Voice of the Boro" for his passionate match commentary of his beloved Middlesbrough Football Club, revealed in that he had been diagnosed with bowel cancer.
Following his diagnosis, he admitted he had been moved to tears by the overwhelming support of Boro fans, who chanted: "Ali Brownlee, he's one of our own" and held a light show with their mobile phones in tribute to him.
Mr Brownlee was in hospital with an infection and said afterwards on Twitter: "Boro fans, you make everything bearable."
Dan Thorpe, Managing Editor of BBC Tees, said: "Our thoughts and sympathies are with Ali’s wife and family. Ali has been an integral part of the BBC Tees family for many years and was hugely popular with our listeners."
Meanwhile, the outlook was bleak for Millie the Labrador when she suffered complications following a routine operation.
Millie (left) and Bentley at Pets at Home in Catterick Garrison. Picture by Stuart Boulton
The Northern Echo’s report on the brave rottweiler
But a brave Rottweiler named Bentley proved to be her knight in shining armour and the loved-up pooches had given the story a furry-tale ending
The pair had become inseparable since Bentley saved Millie's life by donating blood after she had surgery.
Bentley’s owner, Marie Bray from Richmond, had signed her dog up to a pet blood donor scheme at Vets4Pets in Pets at Home in Catterick Garrison.
Mrs Bray said: “I got the call from Vets4Pets to say a dog needed an urgent blood transfusion so I took Bentley up straight away.
“It was really easy for him to give blood and he took it in his stride – he was really calm."
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