Sick teen asked 'am I going to survive?' after rare brain tumour diagnosis
20.06.2023 - 08:25
/ dailyrecord.co.uk
A sick teenager asked his mum if he was 'going to survive' after being diagnosed with a rare brain tumour.
Arnold Chappin, 13, started losing his balance and limping earlier this month. Concerned mum Ruth took him to see his GP and he was referred for tests. Days later, Ruth and dad Brett were tragically told their beloved son had up to a year left to live after doctors discovered an aggressive tumour called Brain Stem Glioma.
Arnold, also known as Arnie, is very 'adventurous and clumsy', so Ruth and Brett originally thought his injuries were down to his usual behaviour. It wasn't until Arnold started struggling to put on his socks and shoes and was finding it difficult to use his left hand that they knew something wasn't right.
"It all started about three weeks ago when he started limping on his left side," Ruth told the Manchester Evening News. "I noticed he was holding his arm up and that he seemed to be off balance and kept falling over a lot.
"He can be very adventurous and clumsy so at first we just thought it was what he is like as a person. He is always rushing around, climbing up things and falling over.
"Then I really started to see him deteriorate with his balance. He couldn't put his shoes and socks on and was unable to use his left hand. I decided to go straight to the GP and I could see how concerned they were. I started to get so worried.
Arnold was taken for neurological tests and an MRI scan by specialists in a paediatric unit. It was revealed that he had a left-sided weakness, was uncoordinated and his reflexes were not responding as they should.
Further tests at the Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge later showed that he had a 'large mass' on his brain.
Ruth added: "When we saw the consultant, I knew