Lowestoft woman tells of son's 11 brain tumour surgeries

Tessa Crane's son, Oscar, was diagnosed with a grade two choroid plexus papilloma and a build-up of excess brain fluid, known as hydrocephalus, at just eight months old in April 2018.

Now five, Oscar has undergone 11 brain surgeries but has been left with permanent brain damage, global development delay and decreased muscle tone known as hypotonia.

Ms Crane, from Lowestoft, is working with charity Brain Tumour Research to share her story.

She said: "Oscar had a dramatic start to life, being born six weeks early by caesarean section, but he was generally a happy baby.

Tessa Crane and Oscar (Image: Brain Tumour Research)

“Sadly, things changed very quickly when he was about seven months old.

"He became irritable and would cry non-stop. His head was swollen, his eyes were bulging and he was vomiting.

“I took him to the doctor 18 times in one month but was told I was a nervous first-time mum and given medication for anxiety.”

"Oscar’s symptoms had been attributed to a viral infection, colic and my poor mental health. I was in bits.

"I figured either Oscar really didn’t like me and I was doing something very wrong, or there was some medical explanation which would be found."

After taking him to James Paget University Hospital in Gorleston, Oscar was blue-lighted to Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge for emergency surgery following an MRI scan.

His first operation, in which his tumour was removed, lasted 12 hours.

Oscar in hospital (Image: Brain Tumour Research)

A further 10 surgeries and an induced coma in the space of four months were required as excess cerebrospinal fluid continued to gather.

Ms Crane added: "Oscar’s surgeon suspected there was a problem with his tubing, but when she went to change it, his head caved in and his skull crumbled in her hand.

"He had developed meningitis and his whole head was full of infection.

“He lost his eyesight completely for a while and he lost feeling in the left-hand side of his body.

"He had to be tube-fed and couldn’t move or sit; it was like he had reverted to being a newborn baby again.”

“Thankfully, Oscar’s now exceeding all expectations.

"I left hospital a single mum with a very poorly child and no real support, but there was no running away from it.

"We just had to learn to adapt and I’m glad to say that Oscar keeps proving everyone wrong.

“He couldn’t crawl because his muscles weren’t strong enough to hold himself up, but physical therapy has made all the difference and now you wouldn’t know that had been an issue.

“He was also non-verbal for a long time, but he’s had speech and language therapy and seven months ago he started developing words.

Oscar is proving everyone wrong (Image: Brain Tumour Research)

"He’s a little chatterbox now – what he says doesn’t make sense but it’s fantastic to hear him.”

Ms Crane, who is sharing her story during Brain Tumour Awareness month, said: “The four months Oscar spent on a children’s cancer ward opened my eyes to this disease and made me want to do all I can to raise awareness of it.

"The fact there’s still no cure for it amazes me and it’s so wrong that treatments for brain tumours haven’t changed in years.

“I’m keen for more people to understand brain tumours and their symptoms, including medical professionals, and I want to empower parents to trust their instincts.

"If, like me, you believe there’s something wrong with your child, don’t give up – you know them best and you know if they’re not themselves.”