Delight for Yorkshire family as daughter is cancer-free for Christmas

Issy Rowe, 36, noticed her daughter, Georgina Johnstone, who was one at the time, was "tired and grouchy" in August 2022. Over the next week, Georgina threw up every morning and became very clingy in the evenings.

Issy took Georgina to the GP who suspected she had an ear infection and prescribed antibiotics but the sickness continued and Georgina didn't have a temperature. Issy took her back to the doctor who thought a virus or a urinary tract infection might be to blame.

After five more days of sickness and another visit to the GP, Georgina was referred to Harrogate District Hospital. An MRI scan showed a "significant" mass on Georgina's brain and she was transferred to Leeds General Infirmary, West Yorkshire. Issy was told her daughter would need an operation to remove the tumour or she would die.

The five-hour procedure in September 2022 was successful and doctors removed a 16cm tumour from Georgina's brain and she is now cancer free.

Issy, a teacher, from Harrogate, said: "The right people at the right time saved our little girl's life. If I had listened to the consultant who suggested we went back six days later, Georgina would not be with us.

"It has been hell but the main thing is that Georgina has responded well to the treatment. We have put her first in everything we have done which meant she has come out of it well. Georgina has been given the all-clear just in time for Christmas which we are buzzing about."

In August 2022, Issy noticed that Georgina was grouchy and "miserable" - which she says wasn't like her. After being given antibiotics to treat what was thought to be an ear infection, Georgina continued to deteriorate and would start being sick when she woke up. Issy took her back to the GP who thought a virus or a urinary tract infection might be to blame.

After five more days of sickness and sleepiness in the morning, Issy was sure things weren't right.

Issy said: "She didn't have a temperature which was a red flag for me. I couldn't put her down and she started being sick again. She started being sick in the morning and the evening and still wasn't getting a temperature."

After another visit to the GP Georgina was referred to Harrogate District Hospital.

They had no major concerns and suggested a return visit the following week, but Issy insisted she should be seen in the morning, as that was when her symptoms were most obvious.

Issy said: "We took her back the next morning when he was ill. The consultant kept asking me what her sickness was like, if her sick was effortless - that was a concern for them.

"Georgina then had an MRI, and a few hours later they came back to say they found a cancerous mass on the brain - it was quarter of the size of her brain. It was awful, I couldn't believe it. It was the worst possible thing someone could say about your child."

Georgina was blue-lighted to Leeds General Infirmary where she had another MRI on her brain. The following day, a surgeon said they would be taking Georgina into surgery to remove the 16cm tumour otherwise she would die.

Issy said: "It was awful, they told us to go home which really shocked us at first but we appreciated it later. We went home and spent time with my two other daughters, Eleanor, six, and Jemima, eight. We had a few hours of normality before we went back to hospital to wait."

Five hours later, the surgery was over and the tumour was removed completely.

After surgery, the treatment plan for Georgina was a gruelling 56 weeks of high-dose chemotherapy, in seven cycles over eight weeks.

Issy said: "She has been amazing throughout the whole process. We have had some bad weeks where she has been sick a lot but we have been very pleasantly surprised at how well she has handled the whole thing. I think because she is so young and doesn't realise she is poorly, she just gets on with it."

Georgina never got to start nursery due to the vigorous treatment programme and Issy had to be careful when she was around other children.

Georgina finished treatment four weeks ago and has been given the all-clear.

Issy said: "The scan was clear, there was no regrowth - Georgina is cancer-free. They are happy to wait six months before we have another scan. I am absolutely buzzing, it is a massive relief.

"We are going to try and get used to normality, I am going to go back to work and they said Georgina can start nursery which is great."