William's illness

Every parent's worst nightmare is to be told that their child has a brain tumour but sadly that is exactly what happened to me. William was nine and doing well at school and participating in many sports sessions after school. He had been experiencing headaches but not severe enough to stop him playing his beloved football or tennis. The headaches became more frequent and he started to feel dizzy as well. Within a few days he was being sick first thing in the morning. I knew then that it could be serious. A visit to the doctor resulted in William being given antibiotics for an ear infection. I wasn’t happy as I felt it was more serious, mother’s instinct. The constant sickness resulted in dehydration and William ended up in hospital. Neurological and eye tests were carried out but nothing significant showed up and William was discharged. A few days later William was suffering muscle spasms and was taken back by ambulance to William Harvey Hospital in Ashford, a twenty minute journey from our home in Dover, Kent. Further test were carried out including a CAT scan but again nothing was found. Finally William had an MRI. A few minutes later the doctor came to William’s room with a nurse and asked if we could go somewhere quiet to talk. I knew this was bad news. I sat down dreading what I was going to be told. “I’m sorry but something has showed up on the scan” the doctor said. William had a brain tumour. I thought that was the worst news I could ever hear, but I was wrong, worse was to come.