Parents of a sick baby felt like they were "going crazy" after claiming doctors and nurses "fobbed off" their daughter's worrying symptoms.
Corinne Wardle first knew something was wrong with her daughter Molly Wardle-Hampton when she was experiencing seizures and was "very unsettled". At just 12-weeks old, they were back and to from their GP and A&E as young Molly's eyes were always fixed to the right, refusing to look left, and her head was unusually large.
However, her concerned parents were told there was "nothing to worry about", but had they waited an extra day and told to go home as they were advised, they said Molly - now aged one - would not be here now. Tests subsequently showed that young Molly had an ependymoma tumour on her brain, with the rare tumour covering almost the entirety of the right side of her brain.
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Molly was immediately blue lighted to Alder Hey Hospital where she had emergency surgery. Since then, her parents, from Flint in North Wales, have been "living in and out of hospital".
Corinne, who is a nurse, told the ECHO: "We got fobbed off with different diagnosis but just decided to fight for it. We knew something was wrong and were constantly on the phone to the health nurse, she was helping as much as she could.
"Even as a nurse I felt crazy by the end because on that last trip to A&E when the triage nurse was sending us home, we were like it's got to be us, we are seeing things that aren't there and everyone is telling us it's fine. If I feel that way as a nurse, others must feel the same and it's scary to know if we'd waited that extra day, she'd have died."
Brave Molly has been fighting her disease with various treatments, which she was forced to stop early after developing hearing loss and "dangerous" seizures. But after being told doctors are "confident of a good outcome", the brave toddler was able to finally ring the bell on January 18 to signify the end of her gruelling treatment.
Now, Molly with have three-monthly MRI scans and audiology tests as well as four-monthly tests to monitor her eyes. Corinne added: "She's been fantastic.
"You just learn to compartmentalise and get on with it, it becomes the new norm. Trying to get back into normal life is a bit more difficult as we are so used to living in and out of hospital but she's ridiculously strong.
"Chemotherapy didn't negatively impact her much, she was still happy all the time and smiling. We are worried for the future. They say it's a rare cancer but she managed to get it and there's always the chance it can come back and that's terrifying.
"Her age, although a hindrance, was a benefit because she didn't know any different, she couldn't understand what was going on and although we will have to explain when she's older, we don't know what the future holds. Her latest scan showed no growth or tumour and it's looking positive."
The treatment has left Molly with life-changing injuries and she now needs hearing aids. Her mum is now campaigning with the charity Brain Tumour Research to raise awareness and support their mission to increase investment into research.
Corinne said: "We are really grateful for everyone involved in her care. We've lived in hospitals and all the staff, they saved her life and we are doing it just as much to raise awareness. Know the signs and fight for it if you know something is wrong."
According to the Brain Tumour Research, an ependymoma is a rare type of brain tumour that develops from the ependymal cells. The symptoms of an ependymoma will depend upon where it has arisen in the brain, but can include severe and persistent headaches, eye symptoms, seizures and changes in senses.
The full symptoms can be found here.
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