A SCHOOLBOY who was diagnosed with a brain tumour but underwent successful surgery to remove it has completed a series of fundraising challenges.
Sean Mulcrone, 7, was diagnosed with a tumour known as pilocytic astrocytoma earlier this year.
The condition is an often benign, slow-growing tumour of the brain or spinal cord, which may be in the form of a cyst and usually does not spread to nearby tissues.
Symptoms vary depending upon the size and location of the tumour but in Sean’s case it was an eye squint and headaches that alerted his mother to a potential problem.
There is a history of eye squints in Sean’s family, but when mum Colette noticed that his seemed to be coming back she headed straight to the doctor’s surgery.
The family GP quickly referred Sean to the ophthalmology team at Edgware Community Hospital, which is part of the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust.
The ophthalmologist was unhappy with the look of Sean’s optic nerve and an MRI scan was requested – which showed a large growth at the back of Sean’s head.
His mother was advised to take Sean to Barnet Hospital’s A&E department where a CT scan confirmed that Sean had a very large tumour and would need surgery to remove it.
Sean was admitted to the Galaxy children’s ward and cared for until neurosurgical specialists at Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital could operate the following Monday.
The operation went well, with surgeons removing a 6cm x 5cm x 5cm tumour.
Sean recovered well and was home by Thursday that week, ten days after he had attended A&E.
Seven days later, they received the results of the tumour biopsy which confirmed it was a grade 1 pilocytic astrocytoma.
Sean has recovered well since his operationSean will have regular MRI scans as there is a small change of regrowth, but other than that has been given a clean bill of health.
To mark the 18 days between initial diagnosis of his tumour to receiving the all-clear from his surgical team, Sean and his family, whose roots lie in counties Clare and Mayo, decided to take on 18 challenges.
Their challenges, which were all completed in August, ahead of Sean’s return to school this month, included trying 18 different types of fruit and vegetables, reading 18 books, scoring 18 goals against mummy and visiting 18 new places.
All money raised will go to the two NHS charities that support the hospitals that cared for Sean – namely the Royal Free Charity and Great Ormond Street Hospital Charity.
Of his challenge, Sean said: “I am really keen to say thank you for the great care I received and to give other children the same opportunities to be cured that I have been lucky enough to be given.”
Donations can still be made on Sean’s fundraising page here.
To date Sean has raised more than £2400 through this fundraising.
