Stuart and Karen Guthrie, parents of a six-year-old girl who underwent seven surgeries for a brain tumour, have called for more awareness around the disease. The couple led hundreds of people on a walk in Newcastle to raise funds for research. A CT scan at Newcastle’s Royal Victoria Infirmary revealed the tumour after their daughter Eleanore was taken to hospital suffering symptoms that doctors initially believed to be chronic pneumonia. Eleanore has now returned to school, but has long-term health issues including diabetes.
After recovering from the surgeries, Eleanore was given 28 sessions of proton beam therapy at The Christie hospital in Manchester. However, a recent MRI scan showed the cyst “had trebled in size”, said Mrs Guthrie. Following the treatment, Eleanore has lost a significant amount of her eyesight, while she has an underactive thyroid and adrenal insufficiency. Despite the challenges, Mrs Guthrie said her daughter remained positive, adding that she was “doing really well” and was back at school, where she had made many new friends.
According to Brain Tumour Research’s Matthew Price, the Guthries have raised more than £28,000 for the charity in recent years. Price said that with the support of people like them, the charity is able to progress their research into brain tumours and improve the outcome for patients like Eleanore who are forced to fight the disease. The family’s efforts have highlighted the need for greater awareness of brain tumours, which affect many people without enough understanding of the challenges involved.
Overall, the Guthries’ walk-through Newcastle has brought attention to the difficulties faced by those with brain tumours and pointed to the importance of continued research in the field. Eleanore’s story is a reminder of the need for early detection and greater understanding of this disease, and the courage and resilience required to overcome it. The perseverance and spirit of the Guthrie family and their supporters offer hope that continued progress in research and awareness can help to prevent and treat brain tumours in the future
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