A MOTHER whose autistic son battled cancer twice before his death at the age of 23 has spoken of her heartache.
Jonathan Ackerman was diagnosed with testicular cancer in 2008 and underwent intense chemotherapy before being given the all-clear.
But last year his symptoms returned and doctors confirmed a secondary cancer had spread to his stomach and chest.
Mr Ackerman died at home on Pentre Hill, Flint Mountain, on Tuesday, following treatment at The Christie hospital in Manchester.
He leaves parents Violeta, 57, and Ron, 60, and sisters and brother Rachel, 24, Vanessa, 22, and Raymond, 20.
Mrs Ackerman told the Leader: “The family is so saddened by the loss of Jonathan.
Even though he had been poorly for a long time you cannot prepare yourself for the loss of your son.”
Mrs Ackerman, who works at Nice-Pak in Flint, noticed something was wrong as she was helping her son to shower.
Following a biopsy at Glan Clwyd Hospital in Bodelwyddan Jonathan was diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma – a rare tumour which usually presents itself as a painless testicular enlargement.
Sister Vanessa said: “The doctors said it was so rare they had only seen one other case like it. They had to transfer him to a specialist hospital because it was so rare and aggressive.”
Mr Ackerman, a former pupil at Ysgol Belmont in Buckley, and later Northop College where he enrolled on a floristry course, underwent six months of chemotherapy which was successful but last year he developed a swollen tummy which doctors confirmed was the failure of his lymphatic system.
After a series of tests and scans they broke the devastating news the cancer had returned and was terminal.
Mrs Ackerman said: “When they told me it was incurable I just broke down.
“I was devastated and I couldn’t stop crying.”
Vanessa, an equine dentistry student at Hartpury College in Gloucester, paid tribute to her brother.
She said: “Jonathan was really jolly and although he could not talk, he would always smile when he met new people.
“He loved swimming and anything to do with water. Towards the end he was very poorly and it was distressing to watch.
“At least now he is free from pain.”
Mr Ackerman’s funeral is on Tuesday at St Thomas’ Church, Flint Mountain, at 2pm followed by a committal at Pentrebychan Crematorium.
Donations in Mr Ackerman’s memory will be made to The Young Oncology Unit at The Christie hospital.