When four-year-old Lacey-Mae Spong began bumping into issues, her parents simply thought she was clumsy.
However the ‘awkwardness’ – and her complaints of intense headaches – turned out to be a uncommon mind tumor.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Little lady’s ‘clumsiness’ was a uncommon mind tumor.
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And her dad and mom’ actions saved her life – with hours to spare.
In 2017, aged simply 4, Lacey-Mae started complaining of giant complications and would ceaselessly stumble upon issues as she moved about.
However her optician and docs, within the city of Barry in Walesmentioned nothing was improper – despite the fact that the little lady was additionally vomiting usually.
When Lacey-Mae began screaming with ache, dad Rob Spong, 45, took her to Emergency together with her mom, Donna McClelland, 41.
Assessments revealed the little lady had a uncommon mind tumor referred to as pilocytic astrocytoma.
She underwent pressing surgical procedure to alleviate the strain attributable to a fluid construct up in her cranium.
The operation was profitable however Rob and Donna had been instructed their valuable daughter may by no means regain her sight or stroll freely by herself.
And it is unknown if she is going to stay to “full maturity”.
Staying vigilant
Rob, a full-time carer, has urged different dad and mom to remain vigilant and look out for signs.
“As a mum or dad, you understand if there’s something improper together with your baby. I am able to be referred to as an overprotective dad,” he mentioned.
“Simply preserve a watch out and do not be fobbed off, as a result of the optician and GP mentioned she was wonderful till we took her to Accident and Emergency.
“They mentioned that, had I not introduced her in after I did, she wouldn’t have survived the following day.”
He mentioned when his little lady was first recognized it was tough as a result of it was so sudden.
“That second of analysis is such as you’ve been hit by a freight practice – we did not count on something that severe,” Rob mentioned.
“It was a whirlwind. We took her in (to hospital) and inside a few hours she was on an working desk.
“It wasn’t till a number of weeks later that it hit house – that it will be like this for the remainder of her life.
“You simply should deal and get on with it.”
Sickness signs
Earlier than her most cancers was recognized, the little lady started complaining of horrible complications, and was vomiting and bumping into issues.
However when Rob took her to the optician, the scans had been clear, and the GP didn’t flag something severe.
Lacey-Mae was taken to hospital in Cardiff inside a few hours – the place she had surgical procedure to take away the mass in her mind.
Nevertheless, this precipitated a stroke that affected the left facet of her physique, leaving her unable to see.
The teenager spent 17 weeks in restoration and commenced to regain energy and a part of the imaginative and prescient in a single eye.
Her mobility is now improved, with the assistance of physiotherapy, and he or she is now at college.
Over the previous six years, the courageous little lady has undergone three programs of chemotherapy.
She is because of full a fourth spherical in Could 2023.
Donna agreed the expertise was overwhelming.
“We needed to block lots of it out – it was such a blur,” she mentioned.
“At that time, we needed to pull ourselves collectively for her sake, as a result of us being a multitude wasn’t going to assist.”
Decided angle
Rob and Donna say Lacey-Mae’s angle has helped them handle the affect of her sickness on all their lives.
“If she wasn’t as decided and onerous as nails I do not assume me and (her) mum would have survived,” Rob mentioned.
“She’s helped us via tons, she by no means sits and wallows.”
Her optimistic angle has allowed her to make pals and do properly at college.
“Lacey actually enjoys faculty, and even when she feels poor, she loves studying,” Rob mentioned.
“The varsity has been actually nice – they’ve supported her in studying braille and managing her mobility, with plenty of help in different departments. “
Stolen childhood
The couple worries concerning the affect Lacey-Mae’s sickness has had on her childhood, in addition to the continued uncertainty of her future.
“In some ways, she hasn’t had a standard childhood, as a result of she’s missed out on an terrible lot, particularly firstly,” mentioned Donna.
“We simply attempt and focus on every day and to take care of any information we obtain as greatest we are able to.”
Of his daughter’s newest spherical of chemotherapy, Rob says it is a ready sport – ready for the outcomes, then ready to see if the most cancers comes again.
“There’s all the time that probability it might go improper,” he mentioned.
“It is a ticking time bomb, as we simply do not know if she is going to attain full maturity.
“It’s what it’s.
“We would not assist her by mulling over it, so we attempt to keep optimistic for her.”
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