Sports · Asia Post
A newborn baby narrowly survived a brain tumour, which doctors only found while examining a tiny infection under his fingernail. Sam Sharp, 39, from Penicuik, Midlothian, gave birth to her son Joey in 2020. Just 11 days later, she returned with him to hospital after he struggled to feed, lost weight, developed jaundice, and began twitching intermittently. Doctors investigated a small infection in one of his fingernails, revealing a brain tumour via ultrasound.
Joey underwent three brain surgeries and nine rounds of chemotherapy, including two operations to remove the tumour and a third to address scar tissue preventing drug treatment of his seizures. He suffered over 30 epileptic seizures daily and required feeding tubes. He participated in clinical trials to improve chemotherapy for infant brain cancer.
Specialists identified Joey’s tumour as a glioblastoma, an aggressive and incurable form of brain cancer. However, on August 4, 2021, his final chemotherapy scan showed no evidence of disease. Now aged five, Joey has cerebral palsy, limited use of his right hand, wears a leg brace, and uses a wheelchair for longer distances. Despite challenges, he enjoys swimming, school, and spending time with his siblings, Carly (8) and Robbie (1).
Ms Sharp, an orthopaedic nurse, called for increased investment in brain cancer research by the Scottish Government by 2029. She plans to run the Edinburgh Marathon in 2024, with donations supporting the Scottish Brain Tumour Research Centre of Excellence. She emphasized the need for better treatments and early diagnosis to help families like hers.
Common symptoms of malignant brain tumours include new or worsening headaches, nausea, seizures, eye problems, sleepiness, and behavioral changes. Ms Sharp urged parents to seek medical attention for persistent symptoms. Scotland’s Health Secretary Angela Constance supported the family’s request for improved cancer care and research. Dr Karen Noble from Brain Tumour Research stressed the urgency of funding childhood brain tumour research to reduce uncertainty for affected families.
Source: The Independent
