The Birth of Family Unit Trust

In 2017, my life changed forever when I noticed a peculiar whitish reflection in my 8months old child’s left eye. At first, I dismissed it, assuming it would clear up on its own. But as the days passed, the patch grew larger, and my child began bumping into objects on the left side. Deep down, I knew something wasn’t right.

We visited our GP, seeking answers and reassurance. Instead, we were told there was nothing to worry about. Relieved and trusting the doctor’s advice, we carried on, but this misplaced trust almost cost my child their life.

Seven weeks later, my child’s condition deteriorated drastically on a Saturday morning. Overcome with panic, we rushed to A&E North Manchester Hospital and endured hours of anxious waiting. When we finally saw a consultant, she took one look at my child’s eye and immediately raised the alarm. Her words were sharp, urgent:

❝ This looks like cancer. Why wasn’t this picked up sooner? ❞

It felt as though the ground had disappeared from beneath me.

A Mother’s Worst Fear

Within hours, we were referred to the eye clinic in Manchester, where our worst fears were confirmed that it was a Group E Retinoblastoma. My child had severe, late-stage eye cancer. The specialists delivered the devastating news: if diagnosed earlier, the cancer might have been treated. But now, the only way to save my child’s life was to enucleate the eye.

At the time, I was 36 weeks pregnant. To make matters worse, my husband our pillar of strength fell critically ill with a life-threatening liver abscess. Doctors doubted he would survive. Suddenly, I found myself alone, heavily pregnant, navigating the unbearable prospect of my child losing an eye and my husband battling for his life.

With no money, no support, and no work authorisation from the Home Office, I lay awake at night consumed by terror for my family’s future. When the day of my child’s surgery arrived, heartbreak overwhelmed me. I held my little one, knowing that when awake, would only have one seeing eye. I felt helpless, furious, and lost.

But soon, anger turned to resolve. I made a vow that no other family facing cancer would endure what we had suffered.