Tribute as Steven loses his final battle

Photo: Darren Robinson

Steven Allen (right) with his fund-raising pal Jordan Martin.

A HEARTBROKEN family has paid tribute to its “funny and energetic” 15-year-old son, who has died from an infection after almost beating leukaemia.

Steven Allen lost his fight for life at the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital after a seven-month battle with the disease.

His mum Kim said: “We have a million happy memories of him and we will always miss him.”

Steven, a pupil at New Bridge School in Hollinwood, was taken to hospital after struggling to breathe.

Doctors found a tumour in his chest, which was blocking his windpipe, He needed chemotherapy and a bone marrow transplant.

The treatment left him with a severely-weakened immune system and he caught an infection on his chest and pneumonia, which tragically took his life on October 29.

His father Albert said: “He was strong all the way through his treatment and never complained.

“We thought we were nearing the end after seven months in hospital and we thought he was on the verge of recovery.

“But when he was diagnosed with the infection, he had no way of fighting it and fell at the final hurdle.

It was a shock to all of us.”

Mum Kim, added: “We will mis him so much, but we are a close family and we are helping each other through it.”

Steven’s brother Andrew (13) and sisters Chloe (11) and Katie (7) had a close relationship with their elder brother.

Chloe said: “He was a great brother, always laughing and playing jokes on us.”