A toddler was identified with an incurable mind tumour the scale of a tennis ball after his dad and mom thought he had a “abdomen bug”.
Simply 10 days after his first birthday, Lucas Garcia-Batalla was identified with a grade 3 anaplastic ependymoma — a fast-growing malignant tumour.
Earlier than that, Lucas had flu-like signs and his analysis got here as a “shock” to his dad and mom David Garcia Jurado, 42, and Laura Batalla, 38.
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Lucas then had three main mind surgical procedures, 13 months of chemotherapy and two months of proton beam remedy.
Sadly, nothing has labored for Lucas and his father David suspects he may need lower than a 12 months to stay.
David, a senior venture supervisor from Stonehaven, Aberdeenshire in Scotland, stated: “Simply earlier than his first birthday Lucas was sick.
“He didn’t have a lot urge for food however we thought it was a abdomen bug.
“He didn’t cease vomiting, he was torpid, and every part occurred so shortly — it was not a sluggish development.
“Just a few days later, a CT scan revealed a large tumour on the again of his head, it was 4cm by 4cm — it was like a tennis ball.
“That was a really darkish second for me. I nonetheless have the image in my thoughts of my spouse holding Lucas and them telling us he had a mind tumour.”
Lucas, now six, celebrated his first birthday on April 1, 2019.
After a CT scan revealed Lucas had a grade 3 anaplastic ependymoma, he was transferred to The Royal Hospital for Youngsters and Younger Individuals, Edinburgh the place he had a 10-hour operation to take away the tumour — which was profitable.
“His first surgical procedure was simply two days after his analysis,” David stated.
“They managed to take away every part, it was a profitable surgical procedure.
“Lucas then had chemotherapy for 13 months, after that an MRI was OK — he was clear.”
Three months after he completed his chemotherapy, Lucas relapsed in September 2020.
He underwent one other surgical procedure and was transferred to the Christie Hospital, Manchester the place he had two months of proton beam remedy.
“We had hope for a 12 months after which in December 2021 he relapsed once more,” David stated.
“He had palliative surgical procedure in March 2022 to take away the tumour, once more, that was profitable.
“After that in January 2023, he had experimental gamma knife surgical procedure — a sort of radiotherapy remedy.
“It’s the primary time one thing like that has been carried out to a four-year-old to cease/delay the expansion for a while.”
Sadly, in June 2023, an MRI scan revealed the tumour is continuous to develop.
David stated there are not any extra remedy choices left for Lucas and they’re aiming to offer him the perfect life doable.
“What number of occasions are you able to open his head and have a surgical procedure?” David stated.
“In all of his journey, a very powerful factor is to maintain him alive however the unwanted side effects are actually tough.
“Lucas is blind in the suitable eye and deaf within the left ear.
“It’s a miracle that he has been in a position to go to highschool. He has an incredible sense of humour, it’s unbelievable.
“You wouldn’t imagine what he has gone via.”
David stated the tumour is sort of a “time bomb” and Lucas may need only a 12 months left to stay.
He stated you will need to “benefit from the second” and provides Lucas a “regular life”.
“It is rather obscure, sooner or later you be taught to stay with uncertainty,” David stated.
“It’s like having a ticking time bomb however we would like him to have essentially the most regular life doable — it’s all about him.”
The Mind Tumour Charity director of companies and digital well being Catherine Fraher stated: “We’re actually grateful to everybody who shares their — typically heartbreaking — story to lift consciousness of mind tumours.
“We all know that each household offers with a mind tumour analysis and its aftermath in their very own distinctive approach.
“That’s why The Mind Tumour Charity presents help to anybody who wants it. It’s so necessary for them to know that they aren’t alone.”
