Mum said her sick baby had no temperature - then she got "worst possible" news
A mum who first noticed something wrong when her baby became tired and grouchy, has been given the all clear after doctors removed a 16cm brain tumour from the tot.
Issy Rowe, 36, said her daughter, Georgina Johnstone, who was one at the time, became tired and cranky in August 2022. Her symptoms worsened as she began throwing up every morning over the next week and became very clingy in the evenings, mum Issy said.
Georgina was prescribed antibiotics after a trip to the GP for a suspected ear infection but the sickness continued and Georgina didn't have a temperature. Issy took her back to the doctor who thought a virus or a urinary tract infection might be to blame. A third visit to the GP after five more days of sickness saw Georgina referred to the Harrogate District Hospital, North Yorkshire.
Shocked medics discovered "significant" mass on Georgina's brain during an MRI scan and she was transferred to Leeds General Infirmary, West Yorkshire. Issy was told her baby daughter would need an operation to remove the tumour or she would die. In September 2022 doctors removed a 16cm tumour from Georgina's brain in a five-hour operation. Thankfully the procedure was successful and Georgina is now cancer free.
Issy, a teacher, from Harrogate, North Yorkshire, said: “The right people at the right time saved our little girl's life. If I had listened to the consultant who suggested we went back six days later, Georgina would not be with us. It has been hell but the main thing is that Georgina has responded well to the treatment.
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"We have put her first in everything we have done which meant she has come out of it well. Georgina has been given the all-clear just in time for Christmas which we are buzzing about." In August 2022, Issy noticed that Georgina was grouchy and "miserable" - which she says wasn't like her.
Issy with Georgina, Eleanor and Jemima (The Brain Tumour Charity / SWNS)After being given antibiotics to treat what was thought to be an ear infection, Georgina continued to deteriorate and would start being sick when she woke up. Issy took her back to the GP who thought a virus or a urinary tract infection might be to blame. After five more days of sickness and sleepiness in the morning, Issy was sure things weren’t right.
Issy said: "She didn't have a temperature which was a red flag for me. I couldn't put her down and she started being sick again. She started being sick in the morning and the evening and still wasn't getting a temperature." After another visit to the GP Georgina was referred to Harrogate District Hospital.
They had no major concerns and suggested a return visit the following week, but Issy insisted she should be seen in the morning, as that was when her symptoms were most obvious. Issy said: "We took her back the next morning when he was ill.
Georgina Johnstone painting in a play area whilst undergoing chemotherapy treatement (The Brain Tumour Charity / SWNS)"The consultant kept asking me what her sickness was like, if her sick was effortless - that was a concern for them. Georgina then had an MRI, and a few hours later they came back to say they found a cancerous mass on the brain - it was a quarter of the size of her brain. It was awful, I couldn't believe it. It was the worst possible thing someone could say about your child."
Georgina was blue-lighted to Leeds General Infirmary where she had another MRI on her brain. The following day, a surgeon said they would be taking Georgina into surgery to remove the 16cm tumour otherwise she would die. Issy said: "It was awful, they told us to go home which really shocked us at first but we appreciated it later.
"We went home and spent time with my two other daughters, Eleanor, six, and Jemima, eight. We had a few hours of normality before we went back to hospital to wait."
Georgina Johnstone underwent a mammoth five-hour brain operation (The Brain Tumour Charity / SWNS)Five hours later, the surgery was over and the tumour was removed completely. After surgery, the treatment plan for Georgina was a gruelling 56 weeks of high-dose chemotherapy, in seven cycles over eight weeks. Issy said: “She has been amazing throughout the whole process. We have had some bad weeks where she has been sick a lot but we have been very pleasantly surprised at how well she has handled the whole thing. I think because she is so young and doesn't realise she is poorly, she just gets on with it."
Georgina never got to start nursery due to the vigorous treatment programme and Issy had to be careful when she was around other children. Georgina finished treatment four weeks ago and has been given the all-clear. Issy said: "The scan was clear, there was no regrowth - Georgina is cancer-free.They are happy to wait six months before we have another scan.
"I am absolutely buzzing, it is a massive relief. We are going to try and get used to normality, I am going to go back to work and they said Georgina can start nursery which is great."
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