Tommy Paul Quinn, from Bishopbriggs near Glasgow, felt unwell after returning from a family holiday in January. His mum Nicole quickly realised it was something more serious
After his stomach pains were initially dismissed as constipation and continued after the family returned from a vacation, a devastating diagnosis was delivered to the two-year-old.
Nicole, 37, and David, 41, noticed that their son Tommy Paul Quinn’s pain seemed to get worse after eating, which made Nicole think he might have a food allergy. Their concern was heightened by the fact that Tommy also had trouble sleeping.
When nurse Nicole noticed her son Tommy’s lack of interest in play, lethargy, and inability to urinate or drink, the situation took a worrying turn during a family gathering, prompting her to call NHS 24. The family rushed to Glasgow Children’s Hospital in accordance with their recommendations.
Nicole told Glasgow Live about the terrifying night. saying that: When we got home, we gave him something to drink, and when we woke up, he was all over the place sick. I just had a gut feeling that something wasn’t right and that we needed to take him back. He wasn’t his usual self, but I had no idea that would turn out to be what it was.”
A doctor saw Tommy at the hospital and said he thought the stomach pains were caused by constipation and asked to look at the baby’s stomach. The mother added: When the registrar entered, she felt his stomach, and her face immediately dropped. From that point on, everything spiraled downward.”
An IV line was inserted, blood was taken from the child from Bishopbriggs, near Glasgow, and an ultrasound scan was scheduled for the child by a consultant. Nicole stated, Given his age and other symptoms, the consultant advised us that the mass is probably something nasty and unlikely to be constipation.
Tommy had a scan the following day. After leaving the room, the radiologist came back a while later to inform us that the consultant would see us in the ward. That’s when we realized there was a serious issue.”
Nicole received the shocking news after weeks of testing that her child had a rare and aggressive childhood cancer called Stage 4 High-Risk Neuroblastoma, with a 50% chance of survival. His adrenal gland had become infected, and the tumor had spread to his thorax, lymph nodes, and spinal cord.
In spite of the bleak diagnosis that Nicole gave her son following the family holiday in January of this year, she reveals that life for him continues as usual. He is a typical boisterous youngster who enjoys playing with automobiles. You see these things in the news, but you never think your son will experience them,” she stated.
Nicole stated, “Tommy continues to be spirited and lively in defiance of the illness.” She stated, “He is blissfully unaware that he is so sick.” He will perform forward rolls in the ward and be connected to four or five chemo lines. David and I have to use the machines to chase him when he is on his scuttle bug to keep him from getting too far away.”
After undergoing multiple rounds of chemotherapy, the little fighter miraculously recovered. His mother added, He needed four or five rounds of chemotherapy to get back to himself. However, he is now a whirlwind. His tumor was removed through a keyhole, and he returned home two days later. He was outside bouncing away on his trampoline when I looked away from him.”
The young man has been extraordinarily courageous and upbeat throughout the ordeal. “He has amazed us all with his tenacity and strength, maintaining his cheeky smile and mischievous nature, and making us so proud of how he is coping with it all every day,” Nicole stated.
The brave child has 18 months of treatment ahead of him before the family can determine whether the cancer is in remission. The mother acknowledges the harsh reality that even with successful treatment, there is a significant risk of relapse, something “frighteningly common with High Risk Neuroblastoma,” despite the optimism.
The grim statistic that, in the event that the cancer returns, the boy’s chances of survival could fall to 5-10 percent only serves to exacerbate the family’s concerns. Despite this, they remain optimistic and have launched a fundraising campaign to pay for potential treatments in England or even further afield, such as the United States, which could cost up to £250,000.
