When Teresa Craigie, 40, noticed her 10-month-old son Jordy Arthur struggling to use his left hand and sit up, she knew something wasn’t right. Despite initial reassurances from doctors attributing the symptoms to developmental delays, Teresa’s intuition pushed her to demand further testing. Her perseverance led to a shocking diagnosis: Jordy had a plum-sized low-grade glioma on his brain.
Within days, Jordy underwent major surgery to remove 90% of the tumour, followed by chemotherapy to target the remaining mass. Recent scans confirm the chemotherapy successfully stabilized the tumour, meaning no immediate further treatment is necessary.
“We were told at first it might just be a delay, so we weren’t worried,” Teresa shared. “But as Jordy got more uncomfortable and his movement worsened, I insisted they investigate further. As a mother, you just know when something is wrong.”
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The road was far from easy. Jordy’s surgery lasted over seven hours, and while the tumour was low-grade and non-cancerous, it still drastically altered their lives. Post-operation, Jordy faced physical challenges including learning to walk and crawl again and coping with third nerve palsy, which keeps his right eye mostly closed.
In late 2023, chemotherapy became necessary after scans revealed the tumour was growing again. Despite the hardships of hospital stays and treatment, Jordy’s spirit shines through as he bum-shuffles around with determination, refusing to be held back.
“To see him fight through this every day is incredible,” Teresa said. “There’s pride, fear, and hope all mixed together.”
Supporting the family, Teresa’s aunt Gail Petrie raised £3,000 for Brain Tumour Research by tackling a 274-mile cycling challenge. “These tumours are severely underfunded and misunderstood,” Teresa emphasized. “Sharing Jordy’s story is our way of helping drive much-needed research to improve children’s lives.”
Brain Tumour Research community development manager Ashley McWilliams stressed the urgent need for better funding: “Even low-grade tumours can cause life-changing effects. More investment can lead to better treatments and, ultimately, a cure.”