When Issy Rowe, 36, took her one-year-old to the GP, who had become ‘tired and grouchy’, she was told her baby had an infection and was given antibiotics.
But after two more trips to the doctor, little Georgina ended up in hospital, undergoing life-saving surgery to remove a 16cm brain tumour – a quarter of the size of her brain.
‘It was awful, I couldn’t believe it,’ says Mum, Issy. ‘It was the worst possible thing someone could say about your child.’
The little girl endured intense treatment – but now, she’s cancer-free, just in time for Christmas.
In August 2022, Issy noticed that Georgina was grouchy and “miserable” – which she says wasn’t like her.
After being given antibiotics to treat what was thought to be an ear infection, Georgina continued to deteriorate and would start being sick when she woke up
Mum Issy with her daughters Georgina (middle), Eleanor and Jemima. (picture: The Brain Tumour Charity/ SWNS)
Issy, a teacher from North Yorkshire, said: ‘She didn’t have a temperature which was a red flag for me. I couldn’t put her down and she started being sick again.
‘She started being sick in the morning and the evening and still wasn’t getting a temperature.’
Issy once again took her to the doctor who now thought a virus or a urinary tract infection might be to blame, but after five more days of sickness and another visit to the GP, Georgina was finally referred to hospital.
They had no major concerns and suggested a return visit the following week, but Issy insisted Georgia should be seen in the morning, as that was when her symptoms were most obvious.
Issy said: ‘We took her back the next morning when she was ill. The consultant kept asking me what her sickness was like, if her sick was effortless – that was a concern for them.’
But, after an MRI scan, the sinister truth of Georgia’s condition was revealed. She had a brain tumour – a quarter of the size of her brain – which needed to be surgically removed.
The following day, a surgeon said they would be taking Georgina into surgery to remove the tumour, otherwise she would die.
Issy and Georgina is hospital for chemotherapy (picture: The Brain Tumour Charity/ SWNS)
Issy said: ‘It was awful, they told us to go home which really shocked us at first but we appreciated it later.
‘We went home and spent time with my two other daughters, Eleanor, six, and Jemima, eight. We had a few hours of normality before we went back to hospital to wait.’
Five hours later, the surgery was over and the tumour was removed completely.
After surgery, the treatment plan for Georgina was a gruelling 56 weeks of high-dose chemotherapy, in seven cycles over eight weeks.
Issy said: ‘She has been amazing throughout the whole process. We have had some bad weeks where she has been sick a lot but we have been very pleasantly surprised at how well she has handled the whole thing.
Georgina Johnstone painting in a play area whilst undergoing chemotherapy treatment (picture: The Brain Tumour Charity/ SWNS)
‘I think because she is so young and doesn’t realise she is poorly, she just gets on with it.’
Georgina never got to start nursery due to the vigorous treatment programme and Issy had to be careful when she was around other children, but Georgina has been declared cancer-free just in time for Christmas.
She finished her treatment four weeks ago and has been given the all-clear.
Issy said: ‘The scan was clear, there was no regrowth – Georgina is cancer-free. They are happy to wait six months before we have another scan.
‘I am absolutely buzzing, it is a massive relief. We are going to try and get used to normality, I am going to go back to work and they said Georgina can start nursery which is great.’
Georgina Johnstone plays on a rocking horse at hospital (picture: The Brain Tumour Charity/ SWNS)
Issy added: ‘The right people at the right time saved our little girl’s life. If I had listened to the consultant who suggested we went back six days later, Georgina would not be with us.
‘It has been hell but the main thing is that Georgina has responded well to the treatment.
‘We have put her first in everything we have done which meant she has come out of it well.’
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‘It was the worst possible thing someone could say about your child.’