THE parents of a three-year-old boy have thanked nursery staff who helped to discover their son had a brain tumour.
Tony and Laura Wootton had concerns about son Thomas's eyesight but it was only when staff at First Friends Day Nursery, in Chaddesden, flagged up his fluttering eyes that their suspicions about his health were reaffirmed.
The couple took their son to the Royal Derby Hospital, where it was discovered he had an abnormality on his brain, which was later diagnosed as a "significant" tumour.
Emily Edwards, the nursery's manager, said: "Thomas's eyes would flutter and he would find it difficult to engage in activities, which was noticed immediately by staff.
"We spoke to Tony and Laura about it and told them about our concerns."
Thomas's dad, Tony, 42, said his son would often bump into tables and doors, which he and his wife put down to eyesight problems.
He said: "Thomas kept bumping into the dining room table.
"When nursery staff pointed it out too we knew something was wrong and it wasn't just us.
"In the long term, if it hadn't been picked up on, the oncologist said it could have led to fatality. The tumour would have squashed Thomas's brain eventually.
"We cannot the staff at the nursery enough. They have been so great and have really helped Thomas."
Tony said Thomas had struggled with focusing since he was six months old.
Tony, of Wilson Road, Chaddesden, said: "He would walk into doors and was never interested in sitting down or watching TV.
"When he was at nursery he could not focus on pictures and found it difficult to concentrate.
"We kept raising that there was an issue with his health workers and when Thomas had his two-year review we mentioned it again and that is when he was referred to the Royal Derby Hospital to have tests done."
Thomas underwent examinations on his eyes and tests later revealed that he had an abnormality on his brain.
He was referred to the Queen's Medical Centre, in Nottingham, for an MRI scan and in December 2013, he was diagnosed with optic pathway glioma – a type of brain tumour.
The condition occurs along the nerves that send messages from the eye to the brain and can occur anywhere along its path, causing fluttering eyes, reduced vision, and, in some cases, fits and seizures.
Although Thomas's tumour is non-cancerous, it is slow-growing and can cause pressure on the brain.
Tony said: "When we got the results, it was like a big hole opened up and we fell through it.
"It was such a big shock. We just thought there was something wrong with his eyes."
Thomas has undergone chemotherapy treatment to reduce its size with an aim of saving his remaining vision.
He now has sessions every three weeks at the Children's Oncology Day Care Centre, at the Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham, and has eye tests every three months.
Tony, who gave up his job working on a project to create ceramic poppies for the Tower of London to care for his son, said: "They cannot operate on it or take a biopsy because of the location on his brain. If he didn't have chemotherapy, the pressure on his brain could leave him paralysed.
"Thomas has been so brave. It's been really hard for us all but we've just had the mentality that we have to crack on with it.
"We haven't got time to think about what is going on. It has just become part of our lives.
"Thomas is a very confident and outgoing child and is very strong-willed."
Thomas's consultant, Dr Sophie Wilne, a pediatric oncologist at the Nottingham Children's Hospital, said he had made great progress.
She said: "This was a large significant tumour, one of the largest I have seen in children.
"We think there is a possibility that he may have had the abnormality for a long time.
"Thomas has had a really good response to the chemotherapy and the results from his latest MRI scan have been very positive."
Staff at First Friends Nursery have raised £602 for the Nottingham Children's Hospital, through organising a disco, stalls and barbecue at the nursery.
The money was presented to Dr Wilne, who said the funds would go towards redeveloping the hospital.
Dr Wilne said: "A £4.5m redevelopment project is under way and we need to raise £500,000 to ensure the redevelopment is not just standard, but truly first-class.
"We are really grateful for this funding and it will go towards helping to provide quality care for children."
To donate, text NUHC14 and the amount to 70070 or visit www.not tinghamhospitalscharity.org.uk.
SPOTTING THE SIGNS OF A BRAIN TUMOUR
CHILDREN UNDER FIVE
Persistent/recurrent vomiting
Balance/co-ordination and walking problems
Abnormal eye movements
Behaviour change, particularly lethargy
Fits or seizures (not with a fever)
Abnormal head position such as wry neck, head tilt or stiff neck
CHILDREN AGED 5-11
Persistent/recurrent vomiting
Persistent/recurrent headache
Balance/co-ordination and walking problems
Abnormal eye movements
Blurred or double vision
Behaviour change
Fits or seizures
Abnormal head position such as wry neck, head tilt or stiff neck
YOUNG PEOPLE AGED 11-18
Persistent/recurrent vomiting
Persistent/recurrent headache
Balance/co-ordination and walking problems
Abnormal eye movements
Blurred or double vision
Behaviour change
Fits or seizures
Delayed or arrested puberty, slow growth.
According to the HeadSmart campaign, if your child has one of these, see your doctor. If two or more, ask for an urgent referral.
