An 11-year-old girl who was misdiagnosed with sickness bugs and migraines was assessed by doctors 30 times before finding a brain tumour.
Tina Gordon, from Northampon, was taken to hospital after previous visits to GPs, A&E and calls to 111.
Gordon’s mother Imogen Darby claimed her daughter’s glasses prescription was also changed four times before the tumour was finally found.
Darby sought medical help for her daughter’s health scares for more than three years.
Tina Gordon, from Northampon, was taken to hospital after previous visits to GPs, A&E and calls to 111.
PA
She was told that the wait for an MRI scan would be at least eight months.
An emergency scan was only provided when the 11-year-old’s balance and ability to walk were affected.
Gordon’s scan led doctors to detect a brain tumour measuring about 3.5 centimetres.
Darby said: “I was told Tia had stomach bugs and migraines. The first thing I was told, because it was the summer, [was that] she just needed to drink more water.
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Gordon’s mother Imogen Darby claimed her daughter’s glasses prescription was also changed four times before the tumour was finally found
PA
“After probably a year, she got diagnosed with migraines and they gave her paracetamol for that.
“She was also given another medication for that and her final diagnosis in January from paediatrics was migraine with sickness.
“Over more than three years, I took Tia to doctors, she was refused MRIs, she was refused to be seen by emergency paediatrics, I called 111, I went to A&E.
“She had her glasses changed four times, she was given medication and she had a consultant, but it took for her to be unable to walk for her to get the care she needed.”
The 11-year-old’s symptoms were first noticed in March 2020 when her vomiting increased.
An emergency scan was only provided when the 11-year-old’s balance and ability to walk were affected
PA
However, Gordon was only recently taken to Queen’s Medical Centre in Nottingham to undergo a 10-hour operation to remove the tumour.
Her recovery will consist of an MRI scan every three months for the next five years.
Gordon is having regular physiotherapy and meetings with neurologists.
Cameron Miller, director of external affairs and strategy at the Brain Tumour Charity, said “We wish Tia all the best with her continuing treatment and thank Imogen for sharing her story.
“Sadly, it’s one that we often hear. For many brain tumour patients, it simply takes too long to be diagnosed — and this is one of the reasons why we’re calling for a National Brain Tumour Strategy.”
