Baby's 'big head' was noticed by doctors in time for life-saving treatment
23.01.2022 - 16:39
/ manchestereveningnews.co.uk
A mum was given the shock diagnosis that her baby son had a brain tumour after medics noticed his head looked 'too big'.
Little Albie Shears was just 16 months old when he fell ill in October last year and ended up in hospital, where doctors asked his mum 'Has his head always been this big?'
The key observation led to the diagnosis of a 6cm brain tumour and Albie had treatment to stop it growing before its removal.
READ MORE: Latest Covid figures for Greater Manchester as cases continue to plummet across region
Mum Jess Shears, 31, is now waiting for a scan at the end of the month to see if her little tot is in the clear.
She is raising money for a charity called Brain Tumour Research to help other families going through the same struggles.
Jess, from Middleton St George, Darlington, said: "The consultant said: ‘Has his head always been big?’, which we had never been asked before.
"The night he was diagnosed was a whirlwind - I was in total shock.
"I want to help fund research into pioneering treatments like the embolising of the tumour Albie had prior to its removal - which ultimately saved his life."
Jess and her partner Sam Turbitt, 33, first noticed something was wrong in July last year after Albie had a bout of sickness he 'never fully recovered' from.
The once-active baby began to lose his energy levels up to October 5, when he became very sick in the night.
He was rushed to Darlington Memorial Hospital as his heart rate began to plummet - so he was sent for an urgent CT scan.
Jess said that was the moment his consultant asked them "Has his head always been big?"
She said: "We had never been asked that before."
To Jess and Sam's devastation, the scan revealed a 6cm large tumour on baby Albie's brain.
He was