A young father-of-one has died from a brain tumor that doctors incorrectly diagnosed as appendicitis, his family has claimed.
Joshua Warner, from Crayford, south-east London, went to hospital in June after two weeks of suffering from headaches and being ill.
Doctors performed a CT scan and told the 25-year-old he had appendicitis and underwent surgery to remove the organ.
However, when the self-employed carpenter was still feeling unwell, he underwent further tests which revealed an abnormality in his brain. However, this was ruled out as a computer error, his family says.
Only a few weeks later, when he collapsed and was rushed to hospital, his brain tumor was confirmed. He died 12 days later.
His family, who say Warner was an “incredible father” and a “fanatic man,” said they are sharing his story in the hope that others will not suffer the same experience.
Joshua Warner (pictured with his son Andrew), from Crayford, south-east London, went to hospital in June after two weeks of suffering from headaches and being ill.
Doctors performed a CT scan and told the 25-year-old he had appendicitis and underwent surgery to remove the organ.
Warner went to Darent Valley Hospital at the end of June, where he underwent surgery for appendicitis, a painful inflammation of the appendix.
But a few hours after arriving home, he was readmitted to the hospital because he still felt unwell.
His mother, Eve Pateman, from Bexleyheath, south-east London, said that when she saw the medical team the next day, they told her there was “nothing wrong” with her appendix.
Another scan revealed an abnormality in his brain. But doctors said it was a computer error and discharged her, her family says.
Trips to and from the emergency department at Darent Valley Hospital continued and Mr Warner was repeatedly turned away.
But just a few weeks later, he collapsed his grandparents’ bathroom and was rushed to Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Woolwich for another CT scan.
The results matched the previous scans and, within 24 hours, Mr Warner was told he had a large brain tumor that had spread from the right side of his brain to his back and brain stem.
He was transferred to an oncology ward.
On September 5, they performed a biopsy and diagnosed him with a very aggressive brain cancer, midline glioma.
The grade 4 tumor, meaning it is cancerous and often comes back after treatment, grows quickly, is likely to spread, and is difficult to remove by surgery.
Headaches, nausea and fatigue are among the key symptoms, along with problems walking, coordination and balance and weakness in the arms and legs.
Patients survive between eight and 11 months from diagnosis, on average.
Warner’s family was told he had three months to live, but he died just 12 days later at Greenwich and Bexley Community Hospice.
His mother said: “He wanted to share his story because he didn’t want anyone else to be believed.” She wanted to highlight the symptoms of a brain tumor.’
She said: ‘Josh was funny, he loved making people laugh.
“He was a joker, he had a beautiful soul and a very kind heart and I think that’s why most people fell in love with him. He touched people’s hearts.
‘He was a wonderful father, brother and son. He was just a fantastic man.
“He was very brave, I can’t quantify how brave he was through all of this. He never moaned. I think I would feel sorry for myself, but he never did that.
However, when the self-employed carpenter was still feeling unwell, he underwent further tests which revealed an abnormality in his brain. However, this was ruled out as a computer error.
Only a few weeks later, when he collapsed and was rushed to hospital, his brain tumor was confirmed. He died 12 days later.
His family (father David Warner and mother Eve Pateman, pictured), who say Warner was an “amazing father” and a “fanatic man,” said they are sharing his story in the hope that others will not suffer the same experience.
Pateman added: “He didn’t want anyone else to go through what he went through.” We quickly began working on brain tumor research. He just wanted to give even in his most difficult moments.”
The medical examiner told Ms Pateman that a report will be sent to the coroner’s office.
Mrs Pateman said: “There is no doubt about the cause of his death but it is down to his treatment and whether any opportunities were missed.”
A fundraising page raised almost £20,000 to fund Mr Warner’s treatment, but it will now go into a fund for his four-year-old son Andrew.
Ms Pateman said: ‘We have received great support from the community and our family. People have been incredibly generous. I am overwhelmed by the generosity of companies and people.
‘It was Joshua’s wish that the money raised go into a trust fund for his son. It is a truly beautiful legacy that he has been able to leave.
“He loved his son so much and it’s heartbreaking to see Andrew asking where his father is.”
When he was diagnosed, his family felt let down by Darent Valley Hospital and were in the process of making a complaint about his care.
A spokesperson for Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust said it was looking into the case.
