A DEVON mum of twins has praised Royal Devon & Exeter doctors and nurses for diagnosing her daughter with a brain tumour – while her brother was at the hospital receiving chemotherapy for leukaemia.
Alfie and Winnie Shapland, who celebrated their fourth birthday in January, were diagnosed with two different life-threatening illnesses within three months of each other.
Last September, Alfie's devastated parents were told he had leukaemia, and since then have been making regular trips to the RD&E.
While caring for Alfie, they began noticing changes in Winnie's health, including developing a dramatic squint over night. RD&E oncology doctors agreed to assess her and discovered Winnie had a brain tumour that has since been removed.
The twins' mum Tamar Leat, who grew up in Exeter and lived in East Devon until 2010, said: "We are so grateful to the oncology department at the RD&E; They are life-savers. What they did was listen to me and did something about it. On a daily basis they save children's lives without getting any glory, and have saved both of my twins."
Until last summer, Alfie and Winnie had been happy and healthy. The family's world turned upside down when Alfie was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia – the most treatable form.
However, the course of treatment lasts three-and-a-half years, and Alfie is currently undergoing chemotherapy.
Tamar, who also has a 21-month-old son and two other children aged 19 and 17 from a previous relationship, recalled: "We knew something was wrong as he had been ill over the summer holidays, but we thought he just had a virus.
"Alfie went to the doctors for a blood test in the morning; that afternoon we had a call from our GP and our world fell apart.
"You can't sit down in a corner and cry for three-and-a-half years though. The treatment plan has three levels and Alfie is on the strongest. He is doing OK, but he's got no hair, has reduced mobility and his behaviour has changed slightly with everything he has gone through. He is not so trusting with us like he used to be.
"I have tried to tell him the truth about his illness in a way he can understand.
"He knows he has poorly blood and he needs to have a lot of medicine to make him better. He also knows sometimes the medicine can make him feel poorly, but that it's still working."
While Tamar was away from home looking after Alfie in hospital at either Exeter or Bristol, his twin sister Winnie began complaining of headaches.
She then became repeatedly sick in the night so Tamar kept a diary of her symptoms.
"We didn't know if it was the stress of the situation or the anxiety of me being away that was causing them," she said. "I took her to a GP and his response was, 'Should I treat her or you?' I was just seen as a neurotic mum.
"I had a horrible feeling it was something in her brain but I'm no doctor and just hoped I was wrong. When Alfie was having chemotherapy at the RD&E, I pushed oncology doctors there for her to be assessed and they did."
Tests and a CT scan revealed Winnie had an oval shaped tumour the size of a small plum. She was rushed by ambulance to The Bristol Royal Hospital for Children and had an emergency operation to drain water from her brain. Then 10 days later she underwent a 10-hour operation to remove the tumour. Tests revealed it was a grade one tumour – the least aggressive, and benign.
"It was just horrendous and we couldn't believe we had twins who were both so ill," recalled Tamar. "There have been some complications such as infection which meant the silicon bag Winnie had fitted under the skin of her hairline to stabilise the water in her brain, had to be removed.
"We were told there might be some lasting effects to her mobility, speech and co-ordination, but remarkably she seems OK. She just wants to go home."
Although Tamar, who now lives in North Devon, is taking one day at a time at the moment, she is hopeful for the future.
"I feel like I'm being pulled in all directions," she admitted. "I just have to be with the child that's the sickest. I'm already worried about my 21-month-old when he gets to their age.
"My partner and his mother have been remarkable. There have also been some charities who have helped us. Clic Sargent have been amazing; a small charity called Richard's Wish in Dawlish were kind and gave the children Christmas presents, and Care for Kids North Devon have supported us.
"Alfie and Winnie are both doing really well, and I just want them to get better this year, and hope all my children will be happy and live good lives."
For more information about the key signs of brain tumours, visit www.headsmart.org.uk
