When Nancy was just 14 months old, her mother Gemma noticed that something was terribly wrong.

At the end of September, the once-happy toddler began suffering from severe vomiting. Her family sought medical help several times, but Nancy was initially diagnosed with tonsillitis, a possible reaction to antibiotics, and later given antihistamines. Nothing seemed to help.

Then her condition suddenly worsened.

Nancy became unusually weak and quiet, spending her days lying on the sofa. Her right arm also began shaking uncontrollably. Her parents rushed her back to A&E, but when the initial tests appeared clear, they were nearly sent home again.

Gemma refused to leave without answers.

After further assessment, Nancy was seen by a neurologist and underwent an MRI. Less than an hour later, the family received devastating news: doctors had discovered a large tumour on the left side of her brain.

Initially, the family was told that surgery would be extremely dangerous. But after Nancy was transferred to another hospital, a neurosurgeon reviewed her scans and developed a treatment plan. Medication was given to reduce the swelling and pressure around the tumour.

Six days later, Nancy underwent brain surgery, with surgeons successfully removing around 95% of the tumour.

The following night brought another frightening moment when Nancy experienced seizures and needed care in the ICU. Further treatment and anti-seizure medication helped her through the difficult period.

Tests confirmed that Nancy had ependymoma, a type of brain tumour.

Doctors later performed a second operation to remove the remaining tumour. Remarkably, they discovered that the remaining tissue had already begun to die, allowing them to remove it completely.

Nancy then began chemotherapy. Because of the strength of her treatment, her family was also faced with the difficult decision to preserve one of her ovaries for her future.

After months of treatment, there was finally a moment everyone had been waiting for.

On January 6, Nancy rang the end-of-treatment bell.

Her Hickman line is now scheduled to be removed, while her blood tests have returned to where doctors want them to be. She still has an NG tube because she is not eating much yet, but her family is encouraged by how well she is doing.

Nancy will continue to have regular MRI scans every three months, along with hearing tests because of the potential effects of her previous chemotherapy.

For Gemma, the journey has changed everything.

“I just want other parents to know their instincts matter. If you feel something isn’t right and you aren’t being heard, keep asking questions and seek another opinion.”

Source: Childrenwithcancer