Home Health The subtle symptom that was actually a sign that my daughter was dying of CANCER

The subtle symptom that was actually a sign that my daughter was dying of CANCER

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The Morsses said they had noticed Lily sometimes squinting or tilting her head to see better with her right eye.

Looking at this photo of Lily Morss, she looks like any other rambunctious child.

But it was actually one of the first signs that a cancerous tumor was pressing against the girl’s left eye.

It was around this time, about seven months ago, that Lily’s parents began to worry that her eye was a little swollen and droopy.

The Arkansas family of six took her to the pediatrician several times, who told her that the subtle changes in her eyes were nothing to worry about, attributing it to a harmless insect bite that would resolve on its own or a simple quirk.

But her eye progressively swelled and drooped, and Lily squinted more and more. Then she became irritable and fussy. Over time, his eye swelled to the size of a golf ball.

The 14-month-old was diagnosed with retinoblastoma last month, which had likely been causing her agonizing pain and vision problems.

Looking back, his parents told DailyMail.com that the diagnosis would explain other signs that something was wrong besides his swollen eye.

He tilted his head to one side, as if to see better with his right eye. He would cry and bury his head in his mother’s lap.

The Morsses said they had noticed Lily sometimes squinting or tilting her head to see better with her right eye.

His father told DailyMail.com: ‘His left eye was very enlarged and we mentioned it to his pediatrician at least six times. But retinoblastoma is so rare that they probably weren’t educated enough to know what it is.

‘I can’t blame them for that, because I’m sure they didn’t know it was cancer. I mean, she’s a happy girl.

The family’s ordeal began in December, just seven days before Christmas.

Lily’s eye had become increasingly swollen to the point that her parents became very worried.

His mother said he didn’t open his eyes at all. Her parents called the pediatrician and made an appointment to have her checked out.

When they explained the situation over the phone, they were told that it was probably simply due to teething, that his mouth hurt, and that he was trying to get over the discomfort.

It was clear that he was in significant pain but he couldn’t express it to her.

They noticed severe swelling late on December 18 and rushed to the hospital near their home in Paragould, Arkansas.

Doctors performed blood tests and a CT scan.

Mr Morss said: “They came back within 30 minutes and said: there’s something in your eye.” We’ll have to call a pediatric ophthalmologist, and they rarely find them, and we’ll have to take her somewhere.

Lily is pictured at St Jude's. It was there that his parents learned that a tumor the size of a golf ball was pressing on his left eye and would have to be removed.

Lily is pictured at St Jude’s. It was there that his parents learned that a tumor the size of a golf ball was pressing on his left eye and would have to be removed.

‘First, the doctors said I needed to go to Bonner Children’s Hospital.

“And then I was like, probably 30 more minutes, (they said) ‘you’re going to have to go home and get an overnight bag, because we have your room,’ and as soon as they said it was St Jude, I knew exactly what it was.” .

She was rushed to St Jude Children’s Hospital, a major children’s cancer center in Memphis, Tennessee, later that morning, where doctors determined they had to remove her left eye, which had died under the weight of a massive tumor there.

During eye removal surgery, the surgeon begins by making incisions around the conjunctiva, the membrane that covers the white part of the eye.

The extraocular muscles, which control eye movement, are carefully separated. The optic nerve is then cut to remove the eyeball.

The conjunctiva is then sutured closed over the implant which is placed in the socket to maintain its shape. Finally, a pressure bandage may be applied to help minimize swelling and promote healing.

After doctors removed his eye, the Morsses told DailyMail.com: ‘He was jumping up and down, bubbly, happy. She was back to being herself.

Doctors also found two smaller tumors in his right eye. The case of blastoma in both eyes is the result of a genetic mutation in a tumor suppressor gene in both eyes.

The defect in the gene predisposes cells in both retinas to develop additional mutations that cause uncontrolled cell growth, leading to tumor formation.

Lily's father, Josh, told DailyMail.com that he believes Lily lost sight in her left eye months ago and was feeling pain she couldn't verbalize.

Lily’s father, Josh, told DailyMail.com that he believes Lily lost sight in her left eye months ago and was feeling pain she couldn’t verbalize.

About 300 children are diagnosed with retinoblastoma in the U.S. each year, and this aggressive cancer can be fatal if left untreated.

However, thanks to advances in highly individualized chemotherapy, it now has one of the highest cure rates of all childhood cancers, between 95 and 98 percent.

Lily’s left eye is now sewn shut. In about a month, you will be fitted with a prosthetic that will look like a real eye.

About to begin the second of six rounds of chemotherapy to shrink tumors in Lily’s right eye, the family will travel back and forth to Memphis until the end of April or until doctors can say with certainty that her right eye is healthy. .

Mrs Morss said: “As there are multiple tumors in the other eye, we will have to do chemotherapy so we can shrink them and remove them with a laser.”

The tumors in Lily’s right eye are further from her retina and smaller, putting less pressure on the optic nerve and causing much less pain.

According to his parents, his spirits are very high during chemotherapy treatments. However, afterwards you feel nauseous, pale, and tired.

Morss told DailyMail.com: ‘This girl is a fan of Disney and Miss Rachel. I think that’s what really keeps her calm.’

Lily, pictured with her mother Casie, has a long road ahead of her, including five more chemotherapy treatments in four months.

Lily, pictured with her mother Casie, has a long road ahead of her, including five more chemotherapy treatments in four months.

He added: “Minnie goes on there and starts doing her little boutique (on her cartoon show), and Lily just jumps and jumps for joy.”

The entire Morss family – Josh, Casie, Lilly and their four children – will stay together until Lily’s chemotherapy ends in April.

The Morsses’ four children, who are home-schooled, are very protective of their sister.

The fact that the children have been homeschooled makes it easier to uproot themselves from the family, but the change in routine still takes its toll. Meanwhile, the Morsses are unable to work and rely on donations from the Good Samaritan to their GoFundMe page.

Mrs Morss said: ‘Our five-year-old son has been Superman. He wants to make sure she is taken care of, and if she starts moaning or complaining, he runs to her to make sure she is okay.

Morss added: “He actually said to us, ‘Why are you taking Lily’s eye out?’ She can have mine. “I don’t want it anymore.”

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