Exclusive:
Megan Payne has warned other parents about the importance of eye health after her son Levi Housley was diagnosed with cancer following a routine trip to a Specsavers
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An 11-year-old boy was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumour after his mum first dismissed headaches as a result of missing his ADHD medication.
Megan Payne, 36, says she endured a “gut-wrenching” ordeal when doctors eventually told her Levi Housley had cancer. The brave youngster has since undergone gruelling chemotherapy and radiotherapy, and still has a Hickman line – used to administer medication and fluids into the veins – in his chest.
But Megan has now warned other parents to trust their children’s instincts. Levi continued to complain about his headaches and insisted he have an eye test as he and mum walked past an opticians on their high street – and it was this routine examination which raised serious concerns.
The optician ordered Megan to take Levi, her only child, to A&E, where an MRI was carried out that same day and doctors told Megan her son had a malignant brain tumour. Levi was dashed into theatre at Queen’s Medical Centre, Nottingham, where surgeons drained fluid from his brain.
Speaking to the Mirror, single mum Megan said: “When we were finally told about the tumour, it was just gut-wrenching. I broke down. It is one of those things that you don’t want to ever hear. It didn’t seem real at first. Then it dawned on me it was, and it was tough.
“That eye test saved his life definitely. I would say to anyone, child or adult, to go and see their optician if they’ve headaches or any problems with their eyes. I think, if your child is one of those children who doesn’t like appointments or that sort of thing, make them go, actually take them.
“Levi, luckily, wanted to go, he was adamant to have that eye test as his headaches had continued. He is a smart boy and children are smart, they have no fear… He had these headaches and I had put it down to him missing his ADHD tablets so I thought it was to do with that, like withdrawal symptoms.
“If your child wakes up in the morning and says they’re not well, don’t just think they are hungry or tired, or they don’t want to go to school, they could be seriously ill.”
Opticians at the Specsavers branch in Daventry, Northamptonshire, became concerned Levi after carrying out routine tests, and looking back at imagery of the eye. They advised Megan to change her plans that day and go straight to hospital, as Levi could have had a blockage on his brain.
But the grim diagnosis was more serious and Levi was sent to theatre, and had a bed waiting for him for a long-term admission. Surgery was successful and Levi started the first of four rounds of chemotherapy in June last year.
Megan, who is a domestic cleaner with the NHS, added: “Levi took it all in his stride really. The chemo hit him hard but he was brave. It was when he had the Hickman line put in when he struggled a bit, and he wasn’t too happy with that. He lived in hospital pretty much for five weeks, with the radiotheraphy.”
Her son’s ordeal had a knock-on effect on Megan’s health. The mother of one, who is from Daventry, collapsed in Autumn last year, and medics initially thought she suffered a stroke.
“They thought it was a mini stroke, brought on by the stress of everything. I had slurred speech, blurred vision and headaches and I ended up in hospital. Doctors said it was not a stroke but it all happened because of the stress,” Megan said.
But Levi recently reached remission and was pictured ringing the bell at hospital. Megan praised his care at Queen’s Medical Centre, Nottingham, and subsequent treatment at The Christie Centre, a special cancer facility in Manchester. Her son has managed to return to school to see his friends for a few hours each week, and is hoping to go back for longer soon.
The mum continued: “He was amazing through it all. The staff at Nottingham said they were really impressed with how he was dealing with it; he was really brave. Before the final round of chemo, Levi had another MRI which showed that the tumour was shrinking. We’ve now been told the tumour is still there but it has calcified and become what they call a non-active tumour.
“He gets tired very easily but he’s so bored and desperate to get back to school and see his friends. It has been a nightmare that I wouldn’t wish on anyone. What I would say to other parents is that if your child is complaining about headaches, visual problems or light sensitivity, go straight to your optician to get it checked out.
“I am so grateful I made that decision and the team at Specsavers Daventry were absolutely brilliant. I can’t thank them enough for their prompt action referring Levi to hospital in the first place – I have no doubt it probably saved his life.”
Medics stress regular eye tests are important, regardless of whether you are ill or not. Doctors often talk to children and teachers at schools about the importance of regular eye health checks and visual concerns.
Specsavers Daventry ophthalmic director, Satvinder Singh Soomal, says: “Because Levi had been to us before for eye examinations, we have previous baseline data to compare with our results from that day and that comparison raised the alarm that something had changed. It also stemmed from a good conversation with Levi and his mum to hear about his symptoms.
“This case shows how important it is for people to have their eyes checked on a regular basis and sooner if they feel something is not right. The child’s eye health as well as vision is checked on all eye examinations. Being able to see clearly is incredibly important to your child’s overall development.”