Jessica, 35, and Lee Neal, 38, living in England, noticed that their little son Ted had a deformity in his eye while on vacation. The couple, who were worried about the deformity increasing day by day, took Ted to the doctor after returning from vacation. After tests at the doctor, they learned that their son had a rare tumor in his eye.
THE PROBLEM WAS ONLY APPARENT
Jessica said, “I couldn’t tell what was different, it wasn’t inflamed or painful, but it was starting to look like it was coming out. It gradually became more noticeable throughout the week. When I pointed it to Lee, he could see the change too. “When we got home, Ted, hoping we were overreacting “We took him to the emergency room,” he said.
HIS SINUS HAS A RARE CANCER TUMOR
Unfortunately, tests revealed that Ted had a rare cancerous tumor in one of his sinuses. He was diagnosed with an unspecified sarcoma of his ethmoid sinus, now called mesenchymal chondrosarcoma. Jessica said, “I expected them to tell us it was okay, but they didn’t. That’s the worst thing you can learn as parents. The unknown type of sarcoma is incredibly rare. It’s also where Ted is in his body, so it’s not easy to treat. There is no known treatment plan, and There is no known process.”
CANCER SPREAD TO THE BRAIN AND SPINE
Ted underwent six cycles of chemotherapy and surgery in December 2021. Ted was able to spend Christmas with his family, but in the new year his parents noticed a lump on his forehead. An ultrasound showed Ted’s brain was being pushed forward due to a cavity in his skull that had been removed during surgery. Testing just weeks later showed that the cancer had spread to Ted’s brain and spinal cord. Unfortunately, the doctors told the family that there was nothing more to be done, and on April 9 this year, Ted passed away at 16 months old.
TRUST YOUR INNER MOTORS
“I’m so glad I trusted my instincts because I think we would have lost her sooner if I hadn’t noticed. Early intervention allowed us to spend eight months with him. If parents think something is wrong with their baby’s appearance, I encourage them to trust their instincts.