A SIX-YEAR-OLD girl died in her parents’ arms while snuggling her puppies after a “mighty fight” against an incurable brain tumour.
Little Mercy Cuthbertson was diagnosed with diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) last year after suffering from dizzy spells.
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She passed away at home on May 19, being cradled by mum Lorraine and dad Paul and alongside bichon dogs Teddy and Coco Junior.
Lorraine, from Forest Hall, Tyne and Wear, told ChronicleLive: “It’s the most awful situation you can find yourself in as a mum or dad.
“But if we could have chosen how things would be, that’s how.”
Mercy fell ill in 2023. She suddenly stopped “racing” around the house, started getting increasingly dizzy and generally didn’t want to play.
READ MORE ON BRAIN TUMOURS
The youngster was referred for tests by her GP, and her terrified parents, who both work for Northumbria Police, quickly learnt their daughter had a brain tumour.
“My life stopped at that moment,” Lorraine said.
Mercy started radiotherapy and within weeks, she had lost her vision and was largely unable to walk or talk.
Thankfully, she was able to have an operation to relieve the pressure on her brain and take medication shipped from the US which improved her speech and balance for some time.
With the help of the Sun on Sunday, more than £123,000 was also raised for further treatment as part of a clinical trial.
Any unused funds will be donated to charity.
Remembering their “beautiful” little girl, Lorraine, who spent Mother’s Day on a VIP Lumo train trip with Mercy, said: “Everyone says their kids are great, but she was truly amazing, respectful, a bundle of energy.
“She was a wonderful little girl who was going to go on to make her mark and make a difference.
“We are still in the cycles of grief, no doubt about that, but I know I also feel great gratitude that I have had the opportunity to be her mum.
“We had six beautiful years of her and she was brilliant.
“Even in the midst of that grief, we both feel so much gratitude.”
Her parents are now setting up Mercy’s Mighty Foundation in her memory.
Previously called DIPGs, diffuse midline gliomas are the second most common type of primary high grade brain tumour in children.
They grow in the midline between the two halves of the brain and affect around 20 to 30 kids every year in the UK.
Sadly, there is no cure. Radiotherapy is the most common treatment.
Symptoms vary, but according to the Brain Tumour Charity, most commonly children experience:
- Problems with walking, balance or coordination
- Weakness in the arms and legs
- Difficulty controlling facial expressions
- One side of the face looking different from the other
- Speech difficulties
- Problems with swallowing or chewing
- Double vision or problems controlling eye movement
- Headaches
- Nausea
- Fatigue
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How to spot a brain tumour in your child
Brain tumour symptoms can be subtle and vague – and they vary between children.
But if you notice any of the following signs in your youngster, you should speak to your GP:
- Headaches
- Feeling or being sick (often in the morning)
- Seizures or fits (not related to a high temperature in babies)
- Problems with their eyes (abnormal movements, a squint, blurriness or double vision)
- Strength, balance or coordination issues
- Behaviour changes (sleeping more, less energy, extreme mood, confusion)
- Problems with their posture
- Delayed or stopped puberty
- Your baby’s head measures larger than it should
Source: Cancer Research UK