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Boy whose parents stopped his cancer treatment dies in mother’s arms

Oshin Kiszko's parents thought chemotherapy and radiotherapy had too many side effects.

Oshin Kiszko’s heartbroken mother Angela said her precious six-year-old son died peacefully at 2AM.

Perth boy Oshin Kiszko, who made headlines when his parents fought a determined battle to stop his cancer treatment and let nature take its course, has died peacefully in the arms of his mother.

 

The six year old was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumour last year. His parents Angela Kiszko and Adrian Strachan opposed treatment for their little boy because of severe side effects.

 

His mother released this heartbreaking statement to 7 News Perth:

 

“My love Oshin took his last breaths peacefully as I lay cuddling him at 2am this morning.

 

“Oshin’s journey has been extraordinarily traumatising for him and I am grateful he no longer needs to suffer through this nightmare.”

 

The case was taken to court twice – once in March where a judge ordered that the six-year-old must receive chemotherapy. Then in September, a second judge ruled Oshin could be moved to palliative care and not be forced to undergo radiation.

 

Last week Angela Kisko released a tribute to her son on Facebook, when she knew the end was coming for her brave little boy.

 

“I have no words to describe this process of letting go of this beautiful boy,” she posted.

 

“Oshin has loved me so much, taught me honour, showed me fun, placed his trust in me, showed me very clearly children have [a] voice and deserve respect and so so much more.

 

“All I can see and feel is Oshin and his deteriorating body… I feel like my heart is breaking.”

 

“Oshin deserves far more unconditional love, freedom from his destructive & traumatic year, freedom from his mind who believes the hospital are trying to kill him, freedom to fly & fly fast as fast was Oshin’s only way prior to surgery.”

 

“How do I truly let go of my love, my only son Oshin,” she said. “It took me a process of weeks just to say the words ‘that it’s OK for you to go and it’s OK for you to say for I will love you beyond forever, more than to the moon, around all the stars, around the Earth and back to my heart’.”

 

Oshin’s story made headlines around the world because of his family’s aversion to chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

 

“(Using) two carcenogenics just doesn’t make sense to me,” Ms Kiszko told 60 Minutes. At the time, the family was advised that Oshin would not survive without further treatment but would have an 80 per cent survival rate if he had radiotherapy and chemotherapy.

 

Ms Kiszko said the family wanted to try alternative therapies in Asia instead, despite their having no proven medical effects.

 

When asked if she regretted not treating Oshin with all the available medical treatments, she said she regretted not taking him overseas for alternative treatments earlier.

 

Angela Kiszko has said she will fulfil her promise to sing at her little boy’s funeral.

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