Baby diagnosed with brain tumour after struggle to sit up and use left hand
Jordy Arthur was 10 months old when the symptoms were initially put down to developmental delays - but now aged three, the Angus youngster still cannot walk.
A baby was diagnosed with a brain tumour after his struggle to sit up and use his left hand was initially put down to developmental delays.
Jordy Arthur was 10 months old when mum Teresa Craigie, 40, from Brechin, Angus, noticed he wasn't using his left hand, but Teresa says doctors "did not consider it serious at that stage".
She insisted on tests which eventually revealed a plum-sized low-grade glioma on Jordy's brain. He underwent major surgery four days later to remove 90 per cent of the tumour, before chemotherapy to reduce the rest.
Tests earlier this month confirmed the chemotherapy has been effective and Jordy's tumour is stable - meaning he will not need any further treatment as of now.
Teresa, a senior practitioner in a nursery, said: "At first we were told it might just be a developmental delay, so we weren't panicking.
"But as the months went by, Jordy became so unhappy and started slumping over. We knew something wasn't right.
"As a mum you just know when something is off. I pushed for more tests because I couldn't watch him get worse without answers.
"It's terrifying to sign forms for surgery and put your trust in strangers to operate on your baby's brain.
"Jordy was in theatre for more than seven hours, and we just waited, helpless. Even though the tumour was low-grade and non-cancerous, we quickly learned that doesn't mean safe - it's still life-changing.
"The whole experience was frightening, but we had no choice except to trust the team and hope for the best.
"He will continue to receive MRI scans every six months to check the tumour remains stable".
Jordy, now three, first showed symptoms in March 2023.
Two months later, in May 2023, he was airlifted to Ninewells Hospital, Dundee, after a respiratory episode at home.
An MRI was unsuccessful and no concerns were raised after further assessments by neurology and therapy teams.
His mum's persistence, though, meant he had surgery at a hospital in Edinburgh.
His family stayed in the city while he recovered and began rehab on his left side.
In November 2023, they returned to Ninewells Hospital, Dundee, for a further month.
"He made progress, but the surgery took a big toll physically," Teresa said.
"He couldn't walk or crawl afterwards and had to relearn basic movements.
"He also developed third nerve palsy, which means his right eye now stays closed most of the time.
"Seeing him struggle with things that came so easily before was incredibly hard, but he never gave up."
In December 2023, an MRI revealed the remaining 10 per cent of Jordy's brain tumour was growing.
Chemotherapy was advised at this stage.
Teresa said: "Jordy has spent so much of the past year in hospital that it feels like a second home.
"While other toddlers are running around soft play, Jordy has been undergoing chemotherapy.
"He bum-shuffles everywhere at speed and, even though he can't walk yet, he never lets anything hold him back.
"Some days the exhaustion hits him hard, but he still smiles and finds joy in the smallest things.
"As parents, it's a constant mix of pride, fear and hope for what his future might look like."
To support the family Teresa's aunt, Gail Petrie, 57, undertook Brain Tumour Research's Cycle 274 Miles in August challenge - raising £3,000.
Teresa said: "She pushed herself completely out of her comfort zone, and seeing people donate so generously - even those who don't know Jordy personally - meant so much to us.
"Until you are living this reality, you don't realise how underfunded and misunderstood these tumours are. We just hope that by sharing Jordy's story, more people will support research that could change children's lives."
Ashley McWilliams, community development manager at Brain Tumour Research, said: "Jordy's story highlights why more investment in researching brain tumours is so vital.
"Despite being classed as low-grade, these tumours can still have a devastating impact on children and their families.
"We urgently need to improve outcomes through better treatments and ultimately find a cure.
"We're encouraging others to follow Gail's lead by taking on the 99 Miles in November challenge - whether you walk, run or cycle, every mile helps fund the research that will lead to better treatments and, one day, a cure for this devastating disease."