Northern Ireland

Armagh teenager (13) who lost battle with brain tumour had `wonderful generosity of spirit'

Stan Conroy (13) passed away at his home in Armagh on Wednesday as a result of a brain tumour. Picture: Emer Davidson
Stan Conroy (13) passed away at his home in Armagh on Wednesday as a result of a brain tumour. Picture: Emer Davidson Stan Conroy (13) passed away at his home in Armagh on Wednesday as a result of a brain tumour. Picture: Emer Davidson

THE mother of an Armagh teenager who lost his life to a rare and aggressive brain tumour has told of how her family have been left "devastated".

Paula Conroy described her 13-year-old son, Stan, who passed away at their home on Wednesday, as "the brightest light in our lives".

Well-known in his community and beyond, Stan had won legions of fans for his impressive photography work, capturing images as he lived his life during his battle and had even seen his work featured in a number of exhibitions.

After suffering seizures as a young child, it was found that Stan had a lesion on his brain.

However he went on to enjoy school life at Saints and Scholars Primary School in Armagh. but at the age of 11, the family was told a routine scan had shown "worrying signs".

It was found that the lesion had grown and Stan underwent surgery to remove it at the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children in July 2018.

Unfortunately, the teenager suffered a stroke during the surgery which left him disabled down his right-hand-side and with limited sight.

Following the surgery, Stan spent two months in hospital undergoing rehabilitation and on being discharged, managed to teach himself to write with his left hand.

Two months later, there was more devastating news for the family after they were told that Stan had a very rare brain tumour - Anaplastic Pleomorphic Xanthoastrocytoma (APXA) - and he later underwent chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

In January 2019 thye were told that the tumour had grown again and the treatment had not helped.

Doctors in Belfast decided not to operate for fear Stan would suffer another stroke.

His family sought a second opinion and Stan underwent surgery at Alder Hey Hospital In Liverpool but unfortunately suffered another stroke.

During his recovery, Stan's family became aware of his love for photography and found he had been busy taking and editing his own photos.

The family said everyone was "blown away" by his images and they decided to put on an exhibition in the Market Place Theatre in Armagh raising almost £12,000 for a number of children's cancer charities in the process.

The family later enjoyed a road trip to America with Stan capturing images of the Niagara Falls however on their return a scan revealed the tumours had grown further.

Stan's family was told to "just basically enjoy and try to make memories for the next while".

After enjoying a family Christmas, Stan's health deteriorated in the New Year.

With his family having chosen to care for him at home all along, he passed away with his loved ones around him on Wednesday.

A humanist ceremony for the teenager will be held at his home today before he will be laid to rest in St Patrick's Cemetery in Armagh.

Speaking to the Irish News Mrs Conroy said her son would be remembered as a "fun loving boy with unusual empathy for someone so young."

"He had a wonderful generosity of spirit and taught us all greater kindness, he saw the beauty in every small detail of life around us," she said.

Mrs Conroy said her son would be "proud" to know that they had taken the decision to donate his brain for "researching this rare form of brain cancer".

"This is why we are now raising funds for Brain Tumour Research through his photography page on Facebook `Stan In My Eyes`," she said.

She said Stan was "the brightest light in our lives" adding that he would be "sadly missed by us, our families and all our friends".