Girl left partially blind due to brain tumor diagnosis

By James Connolly

A three-year-old girl was left partially-sighted after a suspected ear infection turned out to be a life-threatening brain tumor.

Chloe Kefford was first taken to A&E when she started getting car sick and losing her balance.

She was diagnosed with an ear infection and sent home with antihistamines.

But when she continued to deteriorate her parents took her back for tests - which revealed a brain tumor on her optic nerve.

Chloe, from Formby, Merseyside, underwent open brain surgery and endured three and a half years of treatment, including proton beam therapy last year after two relapses.

The treatment uses a beam of high-energy protons to precisely target a tumor, reducing damage to surrounding healthy tissue and vital organs.

Chloe, now nine-years-old, has received a special award from Cancer Research UK for the courage she showed throughout her treatment.

She had her initial treatment at St George's Hospital in London and The Royal Marsden before being transferred to Alder Hey in Liverpool.

Her mom Nikki, 38, explained how the family had been due to move to Merseyside from Surrey before Chloe's diagnosis.

She said: "The house was already sold, and we were planning our new life by the beach when Chloe became ill.

"Then we ended up moving and having to isolate for months.

"She relapsed not long after we moved and had more chemotherapy, then she rang the bell in April last year, but unfortunately, she relapsed again in July.

"So, we were supposed to be going on holiday to Disneyland in Paris and instead we went to Manchester for six weeks for Chloe to have proton beam therapy."

Nikki, who is also mom to Jack, seven, Joshua, five and Sophie, three, said: "Her siblings didn't complain. All they've ever known is Chloe being poorly, so they just get on with it.

"They've made it easier being the way they are.

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"Chloe was a hit on the shuttle bus to The Christie every day for treatment.

"She would sit next to someone different each day, often older people, and she was always singing.

"We made new friends in that time, it's like she's got adopted grandmas and grandads, they often message me to see how she is."

Nikki added: "She is partially sighted now and has no peripheral vision; one eye is particularly badly affected.

"The main aim now is to preserve what eyesight she has left.

"We're hopeful that the recent targeted treatment has got the cancer once and for all.

"She's on steroids at the moment and she's being monitored with three monthly scans.

“She's still in recovery and struggles with fatigue from the treatment, but we hope she'll have a bit more energy soon.

"She's our little ray of sunshine."

Nikki nominated Chloe for the Cancer Research UK Children & Young People Star Award because she "inspires" her every day.

Her mom said: "She has never once complained and is always smiling and happy. The trophy is in pride of place in her room."

Around 400 children and young people are diagnosed with cancer in the North West every year, but new discoveries and breakthroughs are leading to more effective and less toxic treatments.  

Alder Hey Children's Hospital in Liverpool is one of the many centers across the UK taking part in ground-breaking clinical trials, making innovative new treatments available.

In 2018, the charity launched the Cancer Research UK Children's Brain Tumour Centre of Excellence, supported by TK Maxx.

The virtual center brings together international experts in children's brain tumor research to transform the way we develop treatments for these tumors.

Every child nominated for a Star Award receives the accolade, which is backed by celebs including JoJo Siwa and Pixie Lott.

Cancer Research UK spokesperson Jemma Humphreys said: "After everything Chloe's been through, it's been an absolute privilege to celebrate her incredible courage with a Star Award."