Mother Sees Cancer In Her Baby’s Eye Using Phone Camera Flash
When raising a child, every little thing can seem like a potential danger. Being hyper-aware of everything happening with or even around your child is exhausting, but there are times when it pays off.
One mother learned this when her split-second observation became something that would go on to save her baby's life, something she never would have seen had she not been looking out at the right time.
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Something Strange
A mother in the U.K. was shocked when an innocent photo of her son turned into something much bigger, something that would save his life.
Sarah Hedges, the 40-year-old mother to 3-month-old Thomas, was cooking dinner in November of 2022 when she noticed something peculiar about her young son. She believed she saw a 'white glow' in his eye, claiming it was reflecting light "like a cat's eye." She became worried, so she decided to inspect it closer.
Trying To Replicate
"I couldn't see it again, so then I wondered whether it was just the lighting," Hedges told SWNS in an interview.
In trying to recreate it, she took a few photos with her phone, turning the flash on to see if it would catch on the same spot she saw. It didn't work at first, but she was determined to see it again, feeling something was off.
"It was playing on my mind, so the next day I moved Thomas around in different rooms near lighting and eventually, I saw it again."
Dire Research
With that confirmation, she headed to Google, looking up Thomas' strange symptom and discovering that he might have cancer.
She was able to take photos of the phenomenon this time, photos she would show to a doctor when she brought Thomas in to be checked. The doctor didn't appear to be worried or share her same fear but agreed to refer him to Medway Hospital anyway, figuring a check couldn't hurt.
So, Hedges took him and had him looked at by the doctor there.
And Dire Results
"The doctor called us back into his room to discuss the results. I was in the bathroom," Hedges said. “When I came out, he was waiting for me. I knew then it wasn't good news — no doctor waits for someone outside the toilet, do they?”
"Before he said anything I asked, 'Is it cancer?' and he said, ‘I’m sorry, it’s not good news.'"
Thomas was diagnosed with retinoblastoma, which is an aggressive and rather rare eye cancer seen in young children.
Early Treatment
Thomas was then referred to the Royal London Hospital, where he would undergo six rounds of chemotherapy.
Thankfully, the treatment went smoothly (same for one fight with sepsis, which he overcame). Within seven months, Thomas was able to ring the bell, he was cancer-free.
Hedges has reported that Thomas recovered very well at home and is grateful that she trusted her instinct and checked multiple times for that white glow she spotted. The Childhood Eye Cancer Trust explains that not only is that glow a sign of retinoblastoma, but so is a change in eye appearance or swelling of the eye.
A Life Saved
However, only one symptom is present in most cases, so it's important to watch out for.
"Symptoms can be quite subtle, and children often seem well in themselves, which can make it hard to diagnose. In just under half of all cases, a child must have an eye removed as part of their treatment," said CHECT chief executive Richard Ashton.
Hedges, meanwhile, is beyond relieved that Thomas survived. "When you hear the word 'cancer,' you automatically think of the worst — this can be life-threatening. I just wanted to be swallowed up and someone to tell me that it was a bad dream and that I would wake up in a minute.”
Thanks to her vigilance (and the strength of little Thomas), her son will have many, many more happy years to come.
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