When with the little one Reggie Davison from the city of Leeds fatigue and repeated vomiting appeared, his mother Kirsty (34) visited the general practitioner with him. For a long time the symptoms were attributed to acid reflux and the boy was given indigestion medicine. However, instead of improving, his condition worsened, the portal informs about it.
Reggie he also started throwing up at school and had problems with balance. Kirsty recalled another family whose child had similar symptoms and was later diagnosed with a brain tumor. She decided to take action and took her son to Leeds General Infirmary, where a CT scan confirmed her fears.
Doctors discovered that Reggie had medulloblastoma, a fast-growing brain tumor. A 12-hour operation followed, which Kirsty describes as the hardest moment of her life. After the operation, the boy had to undergo difficult treatment, but his last examinations showed that he was free of signs of illness and could return to school.
After surgery, Reggie developed posterior cranial fossa syndrome (PFS). He was temporarily unable to speak, walk or swallow, and several days after the procedure he could not even open his eyes. Therefore, his parents exercised intensively with him at home and helped him with his rehabilitation.
He was later included in the SIOP-HRMB international clinical trial, funded by Cancer Research UK in collaboration with The Brain Tumor Charity. Treatment included chemotherapy and five weeks of intensive proton therapy in Manchester. During his short life, Reggie underwent up to 61 general anesthesias.
The family moved to Manchester during treatment, where Reggie’s older brother Rio (10) attended school at the hospital. After completing the intensive phase, Reggie continued with maintenance chemotherapy at home for another six months and was coping well with the treatment. Kirsty nominated her son for the Cancer Research UK Children and Young People Star Award. Reggie received a trophy, a certificate and a gift card worth £50 (approx. €60). His brave brother Rio also received a certificate for courage.
