The mother of a boy with an inoperable brain tumour has spoken about the "hell" they are currently living in as her son is not able to go home.
In 2010, Mason Fountain was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour when he was just five years old.
Thirteen years on, he has undergone chemotherapy and scores of operations and now, at the age of 18, nothing more can be done for him.
In April, work began on the family home to convert it to be suitable for Mason to be able to spend at home with his family, with the work predicted to take six weeks.
Twelve weeks on, however, the work has not been completed, and the house, situated in the Ravenswood area of Ipswich, has been left as a building site.
During this time as well, Mason has moved into St Elizabeth Hospice for palliative care and end-of-life treatment.
Mason's mum Shelley, dad Kevin, and siblings Scarlett, 13, Kloie, 17, Amelie, five, and Teddy, three, are all living in three bedrooms on the top floor, with limited use to a kitchen.
Shelley described the living arrangements as "hell".
Due to the amount of time it has taken, funding ran out to finish the work – which is why family friend Lucy Howard started a fundraiser for the family.
She said: "It's every parent's worst nightmare, you put yourself in that position and think 'what can we do to help?'
"We just need to get Mason home and get the family back together.
"What is really hard is they don't want to leave their son on his own at the hospice, so either Shelley or Kevin is with him, and the other will be at home with the children, and that division of the family is really taking its toll on them.
"They're having to celebrate any birthdays or events up the hospice with Mason so he can be included, and they just want to all be together.
"Mason is such a trooper, nobody expected him to last this long, and he is holding on so he can go home and be with his family."
The fundraiser started on Tuesday this week and has already raised nearly £4,000, which has been met with support from local companies and workers.
Donnelly Watson in Foxhall Road said they would try and do the flooring work for the house for free or at a heavily discounted price, while local tradesmen and builders offered to lend a hand for free on the house, making it suitable for Mason.
Lucy continued: "I'm blown away, not just from the money but from the offers to help.
"One of our mutual friends is doing the three peaks challenge, and has named Mason as her beneficiary.
"The reaction has been phenomenal and humbling.
"I've frequently had Shelley call me up crying because she is just so grateful and happy that we're trying to get this done for her and her family."
Shelley and the family have done a lot for others going through something similar, creating a charity called Mason's Magic, which has raised thousands of pounds for other families.
Lucy continued: "They're such a lovely family.
"They are polite, bubbly, and confident and Shelley and Kevin have done a brilliant job with their six children."
With Mason in end-of-life treatment, it is not known how much longer he has left – so the family are trying to make the most of their time with the teenager.
To read more on Mason, or donate to help the family, click here.
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