Girl, 11, misdiagnosed thirty times in three years before the real and devastating cause of her headaches and nausea was discovered
An 11-year-old girl who was misdiagnosed with symptoms and migraines was examined by doctors about 30 times before she was told she had a brain tumor.
Tia Gordon was eventually rushed to hospital, despite previous visits to GPs, A&E and calls to NHS 111.
Her mother, Imogen Darby, a pharmacy dispenser, said Tia also had her glasses prescription changed four times before the tumor was spotted.
Ms Darby had sought help for Tia’s migraines and vomiting for a period of three years before being told the wait for an MRI scan would be at least eight months.
It was only when Tia’s condition began to affect her balance and ability to walk that she was given an emergency scan. It turned out that she had a brain tumor of 3.5 cm.
Tia Gordon, 11, was eventually admitted to hospital as an emergency, despite previous visits to GPs, A&E and calls to NHS 111
Mrs Darby, from Northampton, said: ‘I was told Tia had stomach flu and migraines. The first thing I was told, because it was summer, was that she just needed to drink more water.
‘After probably a year she was diagnosed with migraines and they gave her paracetamol for that.
‘She was also given a medication for that and her final diagnosis in January this year at pediatrics was migraine with illness.
‘For more than three years I took Tia to the doctors, she was refused an MRI scan, she was refused to go to the emergency pediatrician, I called 111, I went to the emergency room, her glasses were replaced four times changed, she was given medication and she had a consultant, but it wasn’t until she could no longer walk that she got the care she needed.’
Ms Darby first noticed Tia’s symptoms during the Covid lockdown in March 2020, when Tia started falling ill.
It was only when Tia’s condition began to affect her balance and ability to walk that she was given an emergency scan
Tia migraines and vomiting, for three years before being told the wait for an MRI scan would be at least eight months
She was sick every few months, then monthly, then more often.
In the few months before the diagnosis, Ms Darby said she took Tia to a GP about ten times and called NHS 111 about three times.
“I took her to the emergency room and I was told she had a stomach flu, and I was told to just let her go,” she said.
However, Tia then developed new symptoms, including a stiff neck, which doctors claimed was due to the way she was sleeping, and referred her to a physiotherapist.
But deep down, Mrs. Darby felt something was wrong with the way Tia was holding her neck. It was also noticed by the wider family.
A scan showed she had a 3.5 cm brain tumor. It was a pilocytic astrocytoma – the most common type of brain tumor in children
Her mother, Imogen Darby, a pharmacy technician (pictured left), said Tia also had her glasses prescription changed four times before the tumor was spotted
‘The consultant said she would do an MRI for her peace of mind, but the waiting list would be months long.’
From then on, Tia was sick most mornings and vomited every day between November 2023 and January 2024.
In the few days before Tia was admitted to the hospital, she also seemed wobbly, and didn’t notice that she was throwing milk down the front of the sink.
The next day, Tia’s school called Mrs. Darby while she was at work to say she was holding her neck strangely and was a little off balance.
She called the pediatric counselor, who told her to take Tia to Northampton General that evening.
While there, Tia could not walk in a straight line.
Ms Darby first noticed Tia’s symptoms during the Covid lockdown in March 2020, when Tia started falling ill
A CT scan revealed Tia’s tumor, a pilocytic astrocytoma, the most common type of brain tumor in children.
An ambulance was called to take her to the Queen’s Medical Center in Nottingham.
Tia was operated on over a period of 10 hours and the benign tumor was removed.
“It was a pretty awful day,” Ms Darby said. “They were able to get 96 percent of it out during the operation.”
Since the surgery to remove the growth – which Tia calls her “astronaut tumor” because it is an astrocytoma – the pup becomes very tired and can still be out of balance.
Since the surgery to remove the growth – which Tia calls her “astronaut tumor” because it is an astrocytoma – the pup becomes very tired and can still be out of balance.
She will undergo an MRI scan every three months for the next five years, undergo physiotherapy and have regular consultations with neurologists.
She will undergo an MRI scan every three months for the next five years, undergo physiotherapy and have regular consultations with neurologists.
In the meantime, Tia would like to continue with her activities.
“We all call her Doctor Doolittle, she absolutely loves all things animal,” Mrs Darby said.
“She loves dodgeball and she loves to read, absolutely loves to read.”
Cameron Miller, director of external affairs and strategy at the Brain Tumor Charity, said: ‘We wish Tia all the best with her continued treatment and thank Imogen for sharing her story.
“Unfortunately, it’s one we hear often.
‘For many brain tumor patients it simply takes too long to be diagnosed – and this is one of the reasons we are calling for a National Brain Tumor Strategy.’