health

Melbourne boys become orphans after both of their parents die within weeks of each other.

At the beginning of March, 10-year-old Dylan Watts and his 13-year-old brother, Connor, were living in Melbourne with their two parents.

Now, they have been left orphaned after losing both their mum and their dad to cancer just ten weeks apart.

On March 10, their mother – 47-year-old Julia Watts – died from breast cancer. Then, last week, on May 15, their father Jason lost his fight against B cell lymphoma.

The boys are now being cared for by their paternal grandparents, sharing a bedroom because they don’t want to be separated.

watts family feat
Dylan and Connor have been left orphans after their parents died just ten weeks apart. Image via WattsOnOurMinds.com.

"Family was everything to them," Jason's brother Shannon, told the Sunday Herald Sun of the parents' love for their kids.

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"They taught their children to love one another and look out for each other in life.

"They both only ever looked at beating this nasty, horrible disease, and not once did I hear them say the word death.

"Right down to the last 12 hours of Jason's life, he was telling us that he would be going home in a few days and the cancer wasn't going to beat him."

Julia died on March 10, while Jason passed away on May 15. Image via Facebook.

Jason and Julia married in 2002, and just six years later, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Soon, she was in remission, but then Jason was faced with his own health battle.

Despite both going into remission twice, their cancers kept returning, all while the pair tried to give their growing boys a 'normal' childhood.

"The treatments were done when the boys were at school or elsewhere to avoid disclosure," Shannon told Daily Mail Australia.

"Both parents hoped that the cancers would be cured, but it came back two more times for each of them, finally both succumbed to the disease."

Julie and Jason will be buried in the same grave. Image via Facebook.

Soon, they will be buried in the same grave.

A website dedicated to raising money to help the boys' futures describes Julia and Jason as "well-loved" members of their community.

"They volunteered tirelessly at many sporting clubs, charity events, school events, private functions and Julia would often photograph events for free," the site reads.

The community is now raising money for the ongoing care of Dylan and Connor, with Our Lady of the Pines Primary School planning a Trivia Night for June 17.

LISTEN: How Samuel Johnson spends his time being there for others dealing with cancer.