‘My daughter’s ear infection turned out to be a brain tumour’

A mum has described how her three-year-old daughter was initially thought to have an inner ear infection, but it turned out to be a brain tumour requiring lifesaving surgery.

Doctors found the tumour on Chloe’s optic nerve in spring 2020 during the Covid lockdown. After an operation, she had three and a half years of treatment, including proton beam therapy earlier this year after two relapses.

Her mother Nikki, from Formby, Merseyside, said Chloe, who is now nine, was still in recovery and hoping to return to school soon.

She said despite her intensive treatment and being left partially sighted, she was a “little ray of sunshine” who never once complained throughout the ordeal.

The family were living in Surrey when they said Chloe had suddenly started getting car sick and her balance was off.

Nikki said her daughter had quickly deteriorated and was being sick all the time.

“We took her to A&E, and they initially thought she had an inner ear infection and gave her antihistamines,” she said.

“She didn’t get any better, so we went back. That’s when they did all the tests and found the tumour.

“She must have had really bad headaches, but she never complained once.”

Chloe had her initial treatment at St George’s Hospital and the Royal Marsden in London before being transferred to Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool, when she and her parents moved to Formby to be closer to family.

The move had already been planned before Chloe’s diagnosis.

Nikki, who has three other children, said her daughter had relapsed not long after the move and had had more chemotherapy.

She then she rang the bell in April this year, but relapsed again in July.

“We were supposed to be going on holiday to Disneyland in Paris and instead we went to Manchester for six weeks for Chloe to have proton beam therapy,” Nikki said.

“Her siblings didn’t complain, all they’ve ever known is Chloe being poorly, so they just get on with it. They’ve made it easier being the way they are.”

Chloe was a popular passenger on the shuttle bus to The Christie in Manchester every day for treatment, Nikki said.

“She would sit next to someone different each day, often older people, and she was always singing.”

She said Chloe had made so many new friends during her treatment “it’s like she’s got adopted grandmas and grandads”, who still sent messages to ask how she was.

Nikki said: “She is partially sighted now and has no peripheral vision; one eye is particularly badly affected.

“The main aim now is to preserve what eyesight she has left. We’re hopeful the recent targeted treatment has got the cancer once and for all.

“She’s on steroids at the moment and she’s being monitored with three monthly scans.”

She said while Chloe still struggled with fatigue from the treatment, she hoped she could go back to school again soon.

Nikki said she was “our little ray of sunshine” and she had put her forward for a Cancer Research UK Star Award for “the courage she showed throughout her treatment”.

She said: “She has never once complained and is always smiling and happy. She inspires me every day.”

She added the trophy was “in pride of place in her room”.

Jemma Humphreys from Cancer Research UK said: “After everything Chloe’s been through, it’s been an absolute privilege to celebrate her incredible courage with a Star Award.

“A cancer diagnosis is heart-breaking at any age, but it can be particularly difficult for youngsters – especially when many may experience life-long side effects from their treatment.

“The Star Awards are a wonderful way to give these extraordinary children the special recognition they truly deserve.”