A young Angus girl battling an inoperable brain tumour has been told she won’t need to undergo 81 weeks of chemotherapy.
Sophie Gray’s family had been warned that she would have to undergo the gruelling course of treatment if the tumour increased in size.
However, the Arbroath family were given the good news that it hasn’t got any bigger and Sophie is now looking forward to starting Primary Three.
Dad Marko said: “Sophie is and will always be smiling. She hasn’t let it hinder her in any way, shape or form.
“Sophie is now doing brilliantly and we had some good news that her tumour isn’t getting any bigger so it looks like she won’t be needing 81 weeks of chemotherapy.”
Marko said: “She is now on six-monthly MRI checks and also eye tests to check her peripheral vision and balance but apart from that all is fine.
“She is enjoying the school holidays and eagerly awaiting school returning to start Primary Three.”
The Warddykes Primary pupil spent nearly seven weeks in hospital after being diagnosed with the tumour and also caught E coli and meningitis.
She now lives with a tube (shunt) which runs from her brain to her tummy to drain fluid and relieve pressure.
Although the tumour is benign it is inoperable because it is located close to major blood vessels and the optic nerves.
Sophie told parents Marko and Sarah that she was suffering from migraines at the start of 2013 before things took a turn for the worse last May. That was when Marko got a call from the school to say Sophie could not feel anything in her right arm or right leg and they took her straight to the doctor.
She was referred to Ninewells Hospital and went for an MRI scan the next day where the brain tumour was discovered.
Sophie was taken to the Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Edinburgh where she underwent five operations and two biopsies over a six and a half week period.
A shunt was inserted to drain away any fluid along with a button into the top of her skull but the operation brought complications.
Sophie became ill and was diagnosed with meningitis and E coli but bravely battled through it and went back at school.
Marko and Sarah, who have four other children, have been told that Sophie can still lead a very long and fruitful life, all being well.
However, she will continue to have to go back for regular MRI scans to make sure the tumour has not got bigger or become cancerous.
Marko raised £1,315 after being waxed by beauty students at Angus and Dundee College after deciding to raise money for CLIC Sargent.
He said the charity has been a fantastic help to the family and they want to raise as much cash as they can to help others going through a similar journey.
Marko added: “I was totally flabbergasted by the amount I raised but it was all for a great cause.”