A six-year-old girl died in her parents’ arms while snuggling her puppies after a “mighty fight” against an incurable brain tumor.
Little Mercy Cuthbertson was diagnosed with diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) last year after suffering bouts of dizziness.
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She passed away at home on May 19th, being cradled by her mother Lorraine and father Paul and alongside her bichon dogs Teddy and Coco Junior.
Lorraine, from Forest Hall, Tyne and Wear, said Live chronicle: “It’s the most terrible situation you can find yourself in as a mother or father.
“But if we could have chosen how things would be, this is how it would be.”
Mercy fell ill in 2023. She suddenly stopped “running” around the house, started getting increasingly dizzy, and generally didn’t want to play.
The young girl was referred for tests by her GP, and her terrified parents, who work for Northumbria Police, quickly discovered their daughter had a brain tumour.
“My life stopped at that moment,” said Lorraine.
Mercy began radiation therapy and, within weeks, lost her vision and was virtually unable to walk or talk.
Fortunately, she was able to have an operation to relieve the pressure on her brain and take medication sent from the US that improved her speech and balance for some time.
With help from the Sun on Sunday, more than £123,000 was also raised for further treatment as part of a clinical trial.
Any unused funds will be donated to charity.
Remembering her “beautiful” little girl, Lorraine, who spent Mother’s Day on a VIP Lumo train trip with Mercy, said: “Everyone says her kids are great but she was really amazing, respectful, a ton of energy.
“She was a wonderful little girl who was going to make her mark and make a difference.
“We are still in cycles of grief, no doubt, but I know I also feel great gratitude for having had the opportunity to be her mother.
“We had six beautiful years of her and she was brilliant.
“Even in the midst of this pain, we both feel so much gratitude.”
Your parents are now setting Mighty Mercy Foundation in your memory.
Formerly called DIPGs, diffuse midline gliomas are the second most common type of primary high-grade brain tumor in children.
They grow in the midline between the two halves of the brain and affect around 20 to 30 children every year in the UK.
Unfortunately, there is no cure. Radiotherapy is the most common treatment.
Symptoms vary, but depending on the Brain Tumor CharityMost commonly children experience:
- Problems with walking, balance or coordination
- Weakness in the arms and legs
- Difficulty controlling facial expressions
- One side of the face looks different from the other
- Speech difficulties
- Problems swallowing or chewing
- Double vision or problems controlling eye movement
- Headaches
- Nausea
- Fatigue
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How to detect a brain tumor in your child
Brain tumor symptoms can be subtle and vague – and vary between children.
But if you notice any of the following signs in your child, you should speak to your GP:
- Headaches
- Feeling or being sick (usually in the morning)
- Convulsions or convulsions (not related to high temperature in babies)
- Problems with the eyes (abnormal movements, squinting, blurring or double vision)
- Strength, balance or coordination problems
- Behavior changes (sleeping more, less energy, extreme mood swings, confusion)
- Problems with your posture
- Delayed or interrupted puberty
- Your baby’s head is bigger than it should be
Source: Cancer research in the UK
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