A NURSE has issued an urgent warning to parents over signs their baby could have a life-threatening disease.
Corinne Wardle, 38, has shared some little-known signs she noticed in her daughter Molly that turned out to be symptoms of a deadly brain tumour.
SWNSMum Corinne noticed some strange symptoms in her baby daughter[/caption]
SWNSLittle Molly was diagnosed with a deadly brain tumour[/caption]
SWNSLittle Molly needed emergency surgery to remove the tumour[/caption]
The nurse started noticing some odd changes when Molly was just 12 weeks old and started documenting the different symptoms.
The most noticeable was growth in the soft spots of her head as well as a fixed eye gaze, a tilt to one side of her head and patterns of vomiting.
She said: “For the first few months of her life, Molly couldn’t be put down and would cry every time – as if she were in pain.
“Looking back, this was one of the symptoms which pieced everything together.
“I tried different things to eliminate conditions common with newborns.
“It was both her eyes deviating outwards and her head measuring off the charts which meant she had a CT scan.
“That was when I was given the worst news you could ever hear as a parent.”
Doctors revealed Molly had an ependymoma tumour on her brain and scans showed it covered almost the entirety of the right side.
Luckily it was caught in time and Molly was taken to Alder Hey Hospital in Liverpool where she had emergency surgery to remove it.
Doctors had warned if treatment had been delayed by just one or two days she may not have survived, Corinne said.
Corrine, who is also mum to Leah, 12 and Kacey, 11, is now working with the charity Brain Tumour Research to raise awareness.
The mum, from Flint, Flintshire, north Wales, added: “I felt a huge relief when I was told the mass was removed.”
Corrine quickly noticed the difference in Molly’s behaviour – suggesting the surgery had been a success.
She said: “For the first time in her life, Molly laid on her back, staring out of the window, babbling.
“I was overcome with emotion as for the last three months she couldn’t be put down. It was amazing to see.
“Especially after being told, had we waited any longer, that would have likely been the last day of her life.”
This month, Molly is due to finish her year-long clinical trial treatment.
Happily, MRI scan results on 3 January 2023 came back clear, with no further growth of Molly’s tumour.
However, treatment has left Molly with life-changing injuries and she now needs hearing aids.
Her mum is now campaigning with the charity Brain Tumour Research to raise awareness and support their mission to increase investment into research.
Corinne, who has worked at the Countess of Chester Hospital for five years, added: “According to Molly’s oncologist, this cancer can be cured but the evidence is minimal.
“Her specific cancer – ependymoma – has subtypes that have very different outcomes and behave differently.
“So whilst we have been assured that Molly’s outcome is bright, it highlights there is a need for further research into brain tumours.
“From the evidence I have studied, this terrifies me.
“Molly will likely have MRI scans for the rest of her life as there is a possibility of the tumour returning.
“Despite the risks and uncertainty, she still has a chance and that offers me some respite.
“She’s recently learned to say ‘Mama’ which makes me smile every time I hear it.”
Mel Tiley, community, development manager at Brain Tumour Research, said: “We’re grateful to Corinne for sharing Molly’s story and wish the family well as Molly nears the end of her treatment.
“Unfortunately Molly’s story is a reminder that brain tumours are indiscriminate and can affect anyone at any age.
It’s only by working together that we will be able to improve treatment options for patients and, ultimately, find a cure.”
One in three people knows someone affected by a brain tumour and they kill more children and adults under the age of 40 than any other cancer, according to Brain Tumour Research.
SWNSLuckily the young girl is now cancer-free[/caption] Read More