WHEN little Ava started being clumsy around the house, mum Jackie Nelson thought nothing of it.
But as her symptoms continued and the 10-year-old started to feel constantly sick and dizzy, her worried mum took her to the GP.
Jackie, 35, said Ava was also experiencing headaches, but was ‘brushed off’ by the GP who said she had a viral infection that would pass.
The family returned to the GP three more times before Ava was finally referred to a children’s ward at Cross House Hospital near Kilmarnock, Scotland.
Sadly, just last month, Ava was diagnosed with a high grade glioblastoma brain tumour after an MRI scan.
Glioblastoma is the most common form of a tumour in adults and is extremely agressive.
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Glioblastomas are grade 4 brain tumours – and are sometimes called glioblastoma multiforme.
More than 2,000 cases are diagnosed every year.
Mum Jackie, a carer, from Kilwinning, Scotland, said: “It seemed she was just being clumsy at home, until she started to complain about feeling sick and dizzy all the time.
“Something in my heart knew she wasn’t right, and if I’d have listened to the doctors at the start Ava wouldn’t still be with us.”
After receiving the shocking diagnosis, Ava was taken straight to Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Glasgow in an ambulance and booked in for brain surgery the very next morning.
Surgeons got to work and had to relieve the pressure which had built up because of the tumour.
Without this procedure – Ava would have been left with damage to her brain.
The operation was a success and she has bow been referred for her first rounds of chemo and radiotherapy.
She has been staying at Marion House, free accommodation run by charity Young Lives vs Cancer, opposite the hospital for the past seven weeks, with her mum.
Her radiotherapy is set to end on August 5, when doctors will review her progress – and Jackie is praying it will be good news.
Jackie added: “The last two months have been a whirlwind and Ava has been so brave through it all.
“She’s having daily radio therapy and taking chemo tablets to try and shrink the tumour.
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“We should find out how her radiotherapy has affected the tumour in the next month and we’re all praying it will be good news.
“Ava is the most loving, positive girl and an amazing daughter and I couldn’t be prouder of her.”
