Brett was a healthy and happy 8-year-old until November 2019, when he started to have an intense headache which made him sick some mornings. Our GP blamed it on too much screen time and we were sent away. These episodes continued, and Google kept telling me they were brain tumour symptoms — but don’t be silly, I thought. Brain tumours happen to other people, not us… right?

I got him to Specsavers for another eye test, where after checking his optic nerve and finding it swollen, we were told to go straight to our local hospital. They scanned him the next day and we were told it was a brain tumour. I remember, it was like being in a dream as I asked if it could be treated, and they replied ‘we hope so’…?

We were blue-lighted to Alder Hey children’s hospital that day — who have been amazing. Brett had his 10-hour operation 3 days later to remove the pilocytic astrocytoma, which they got 95% out.

Since then he has had meningitis and has needed a shunt fitted as he’s been left with hydrocephalus, multiple operations for infected wound, lumbar punctures and new shunts (5 so far).

Scans and scanxiety

He has regular MRI scans to check for new tumour growth every 4 months, and so far it’s stable. It’s always at the back of my mind though, and I’m constantly watching for shunt failure symptoms — but we were lucky, we got a grade 1, which lots of parents don’t get. So I try and stay positive.

2024 — pulling through

It’s been a tough year. In August 2023, Brett had surgery to fit a central line for chemo, which finished around Christmas. A year on, there have been overnight hospital stays at Alder Hey, spiked temperatures, vomiting, CT scans, infections and antibiotics. Brett and Jill have managed to fit in a trip to Glasgow, Yorkshire, the museums, and see Minions 4 over the summer. Brett is now in year 9 and typically boisterous when he can manage it. With chemo behind him, he and mum are pulling through with fierce courage — and the love and support of good friends, family, and great charities with lived experience.

I’m thankful for all the help and support we’ve been given. Brain tumours definitely need more media attention, so that more people can become aware and the NHS and the community teams can detect the brain tumour symptoms earlier in children.

Google kept telling me they were brain tumour symptoms — but don’t be silly, I thought. Brain tumours happen to other people, not us… right?

It takes the love and support of good friends, family, and charities with lived experience to rebuild life after a childhood cancer diagnosis.