Nancy's Fight: A Brain Tumor Journey

Little Nancy from Castle Donnings faced a tough battle with a rare brain tumor at just one

year old.

Doctors found a high-grade ependymoma on her left frontal lobe after weeks of vomiting

and arm trimmers that got brushed off as a stomach bug or allergy.

The news hit hard, was specialists initially saying it was incurable and she'd need

comfort care only.

Her parents, Gemma and Sam, wouldn't back down and push for scans at Royal Derby Hospital,

leading to an MRI that confirmed the growth.

They rushed her to Queen's Medical Center in Nottingham, where the team mapped out a

risky two-stage surgery because of the tumor spot near areas, controlling movement.

Gemma felt the world stop when they first heard the prognosis, but the surgeon stepped

up with a plan to remove it, despite the dangers.

The family staged strong through the blur of operations and the fear of losing her mobility

or worse.

She powered through intensive chemo, starting in December 2023, and by January 2025, scans

showed her in full remission, at three years old.

She's back to being her energetic self, with regular checkups keeping watch.

Now Gemma's tackling brain tumor research is 200-kilometer challenge in May, sometimes

with Nancy and her brother Mickey along, scars and all.

To spotlight early signs and fund better treatments for kids like her, I'm Corey with the story,

and you've been listening to Lester News today, AI-powered local news.