A frantic mum threatened to take her sick little girl abroad for tests before medics finally responded - and a day later they diagnosed her with leukaemia.
Ilona Zahorszki begged at least 10 doctors to carry out tests on her gravely ill daughter for two months before she was finally diagnosed with the blood cancer on New Year’s Day.
Each time little Theano, three, was taken to her GP, A&E or NHS 24 she was dismissed as having mild childhood ailments ranging from chest, urine and ear infections or other non-life threatening conditions like constipation, an allergic reaction an injury in her leg and even arthritis.
But as Theano lurched from one illness to another over the course of two months, her mum and dad, Ilona and Antonio, both 33, knew deep down there was more to it than doctors were saying.
Each time they saw a medic they asked for blood tests to be done to ensure there was nothing more sinister but each time they claim they were ushered away with an “it’s perfectly normal” response to her illness.
Theano first showed signs of illness shortly after starting nursery last August.
Her parents had expected her to pick up bugs since she was mixing with other children but the frequency of them began to worry them.
Even though she had a new cold every two weeks up to October, GPs assured the couple it was normal for a youngster starting nursery.
She did begin to show signs of improvement but in November the couple, who also have a seven-month-old son Alexander, began to suspect something was seriously amiss.
Ilona, a carer, who came to Scotland 10 years ago from Hungary with her Greek husband, said: “In November and December I knew Theano wasn’t well but no-one would listen to me.
“I went to the GP, A & E and NHS 24. I saw more than 10 doctors.
“She had three urine infections, an ear infection, a rash like red stamp marks on her legs, a chest infection, belly ache and a painful leg.
“Every time I went to see a doctor I asked for bloods to be taken. I knew there was something wrong because her whole personality had changed.
“She was wanting cuddled all the time and not running any more. Before she was ill she was a very active child. She had a lot of friends. She had also started having tantrums.
“The doctor said the rash like stamp marks on her legs was probably an allergic reaction to the antibiotics he had prescribed for a chest infection, and then she started getting colds again every two weeks.
“I was asking for her to be sent to a paediatric clinic to check why she was ill all the time. But the GP told me she was normal. He said if there was no change he would consider referring her in January.
“Then she started getting new symptoms including a pain in her leg. We were told at the first to hospital it was soft tissue damage and then we were told it was a kind of infant arthritis.
“We were sent home with Calpol and Neurofen but they never checked any bloods.”
More infections and antibiotics followed but by the middle of November she could hardly walk and by the first week in December she was no longer well enough to go to nursery.
Her mum continued: “She started getting belly pain. She became constipated and was complaining about the pain. She cried all day and her leg was still hurting.”
Once again her parents took Theano to Wishaw General where a receptionist asked: “Are you here again?”
The doctor simply gave her laxatives and sent her on her way. Antonio once again asked for blood tests to be done but was told: “She doesn’t need blood tests, she’s just constipated.”
Her condition worsened throughout December and two days before Christmas she had a high temperature. She was also sleeping a lot and the skin on her hands and feet was peeling off. NHS 24 prescribed more antibiotics.
On December 31 little Theano’s condition was significantly worse. She was screaming and crying all day with the pain. She was no longer able to walk.
NHS 24 directed her mum to hospital where she sat for five hours to be seen.
Ilona and Antonio, a delivery driver, decided if she was did not get blood taken this time they were going to fly her to Hungary or Greece to have her tested there - no longer having any faith in the Scottish health system.
However, this time medics granted her request and told the terrified parents their beautiful little girl was “very ill”.
Next morning they revealed she had leukaemia and that 81 per cent of the cells in her body had been affected.
She was transferred to the QEUH in Glasgow where she began chemotherapy on January 5.
Ilona said: “The doctor told me her leukaemia had probably started three or four months ago - when all the colds and infections had started.
“But the last eight weeks she went so downhill and nobody did anything.”
Doctors have told Ilona that Theano has a “very good chance” of survival but she said: “One doctor told me she would only have had a month or two if I hadn’t come in when I did.”
Ilona said she wanted to speak out about what happened to alert other parents to follow their instincts and not be fobbed off.
She said: “I just want to say to other mums that when they feel something is wrong they have to keep telling their doctor.”
Dr David Watson, University Hospital Wishaw chief of nursing, said: “Due to patient confidentiality, we cannot discuss individual cases.
“We regret any instance where someone feels we have failed to provide the highest standard of care.
“We would encourage anyone to contact our patient affairs team if they wish to raise any concerns to allow them to be fully investigated.”
Lib-Dem leader and health spokesman Alex Cole-Hamilton said: “This situation is devastating and will strike fear into the heart of any parent.
“It underscores why sometimes it is right to keep asking.
“Our hardworking clinicians are on their knees and this may well be a symptom of a health service that is running very hot.”
Labour’s health spokeswoman Jackie Baillie commented: “We know doctors are under enormous pressure, both in GP surgeries and in busy A & E departments, and this reflects that pressure.
“I would urge parents to always continue to seek medical advice if the have concerns.”
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