'He went through so much, but he taught grown adults how to be strong... he was truly one of a kind'

Lois McCarthy reports on how one family have honoured the memory of a tragic young cancer victim by founding a charity to help others facing a similar devastating diagnosis

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JOSEPH Yeandle was a cheeky, lovable little boy whose energy could light up any room.

To Emma Rees, also known as Joseph's Auntie Ems, at just three years old, his boundless enthusiasm and natural charisma made him unforgettable to everyone who knew him.

One of the family’s favourite memories was when Joseph was just two. He managed to grab the showerhead while his Nannie was in the bathroom, and hilariously soaked her without mercy.

“He was a complete character,” Emma laughs. “And also, one of the strongest little boys I've ever come across.

“He went through so much, but taught grown adults how to be strong because of the way he responded to whatever life threw at him. He was truly one of a kind.”

It’s these moments of joy and mischief which his family hold close as they continue to honour Joseph's memory through Joseph’s Smile, the charity co-founded by Emma along with Joseph’s mother Katy after his death in 2021.

Joseph’s heartbreaking journey began in April that same year, when his family noticed something wasn’t right.

“His diagnosis came after a number of weeks of Joseph being under the weather,” Emma recalled.

“We had noticed a sudden change in him. He was going off his food, being a bit more tired than usual, then he started limping.”

The turning point came over the Easter holidays when Joseph and his older brother Liam caught colds. While Liam quickly bounced back, Joseph didn’t.

“He didn’t get better like Liam did, so the GP sent him to Glangwili Hospital for blood tests,” Emma explained.

The results showed Joseph's platelets were dangerously low, indicating a possible cancer diagnosis.

A week later, Joseph's parents were given the devastating news Joseph had stage four high-risk neuroblastoma.