brain tumor warning signs

I subscribe to an online discussion group for parents of children with Low Grade Gliomas. The daily digest can be quite a tough read - there are parents there that are going through a really tough time and are using the group to sound off, or gather opinion about where to go next. Their children are often having all sorts of complications, and having to cope with all sorts of difficult treatments, such as Chemotherapy and Radiotherapy.

On this blog a couple of weeks ago, I said about Tara that, “we do still get the odd wobble (mostly when she turns)."  Watching her today spin around and around I realised that I should make another 'health check' entry.

So we finally got a response from our (ex) GP to my letter voicing concerns at Tara's misdiagnosis.

Can you imagine how I felt when I realised that the Optometrist I was sat in front with Tara was the very same lady who misdiagnosed her as long-sighted at the beginning of August? My immediate urge was to ask to see someone else, but I resisted and let the woman come up with a plan for helping Tara with her squint (she's to get stronger glasses). I'm quite proud that I managed to stay calm.

One of Tara's health carer's mentioned that I should keep a diary of her progress, so that I can track peaks and troughs. I thought that was a lovely idea - then forgot all about it! But now I've remembered - what better format than a blog?

A couple of weeks back I forwarded a history of Tara's case to her local MP, David Lepper. I relayed to David my concern that her GP, a doctor at A&E and an Optometrist all failed to diagnose the seriousness of Tara's symptoms, and I hoped that he could conduct a review of the case so that lessons could be learned.

Over the coming weeks and months I aim to document Tara's progress as she battles her way back to full health after a very serious illness.

I also want to document my own progress as I take up the fight to gain enough strength to cycle over the Atlas Mountains in Morocco in May 2010 to raise funds for King's College Hospital!