Schoolgirl wakes up screaming in pain and blind in both eyes with mum desperate

18 January 2024 , 23:01

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Schoolgirl Evelyn Sancto still doesn't know exactly what's wrong with her, her mum said (Image: Katie Fitzgerald/Liverpool Echo)

A schoolgirl woke up screaming in pain and is now blind in both eyes leaving her mum is desperate for answers.

Evelyn Sancto had complained about her vision for several years after struggling in school. The 12-year-old had been sent for an eye test in 2020 by mum Katie Fitzgerald, from Stockbridge Village, Merseyside - during this she was told she had “very poor vision”.

But after being referred to St Helens hospital, and being told her vision was around 50 per cent, nothing more was done. Another routine eye test around 18 months ago saw Evelyn referred to Alder Hey Hospital due to her vision not improving.

Katie, who was told by her school Evelyn could have CVI (cerebral visual impairment), said they had been referred for more tests, but on Friday, January 12, her daughter woke up screaming in pain.

She told the Liverpool Echo: "It was about 2.30am and she woke up screaming with a headache and she lost her sight in both eyes. She couldn't see anything. We called Whiston because she's there for epilepsy but they said to send her to Alder Hey but we were sent home. We got a call Sunday to bring her back in for an eye exam."

Dad ignored pain in left eye for three months – and nearly went completely blind

Even now Katie says they still haven’t got an official diagnosis, but they think poor Evelyn could have CVI or a cyst on her brain. She continued: "It's been horrendous, her eyesight still hasn't returned and we have no answers. She's had independence for 12 years and now it's completely gone. Even the smallest things she can't do like go the toilet on her own.

"Her vision has always been bad, she was having tests but I didn't think she'd ever go blind. We don't know where to go from here. We've not had an official diagnosis on paper so if anyone has the tiniest bit of information on what can help us. I can't put into any other words how horrendous it is.

"It's heartbreaking. She didn't have the normal independence a 12-year-old should have because of her epilepsy but around the house she'd do things for herself but now she can't. And we still don't know what it is.

"The school, St John Bosco, have been great, they were the ones who said she could have CVI but we've been told by doctors to wait and see."

Aaliyah Rugg