Mum spotted cancer when she saw son's glow as he played in sun
| Published date | 25 April 2024 |
| Publication title | MyLondon (England) |
Arlo had to have an enucleation -where the eye is removed -and underwent four rounds of chemotherapy. But the little boy has "recovered well" and is waiting for a prosthetic eye.
Megan, a singer, from Isle of Wight, said: "Arlo is doing so well, we are so incredibly proud of him. "He's cleaning his eye himself, we've had his moulding done for his prosthetic eye and he stayed awake for his post-op appointment.
"He's back at school full time and is loving it. His big brother is his best friend and such a good big brother always making sure Arlo is comfortable and okay at school.”
Arlo was playing in direct sunlight when Megan noticed a white glow in his eye in August 2023. Megan said: “I had noticed something and the next day my sister had him for the day.
"She called me and said that his eye was completely white while playing in his cousin’s room directly in the sunlight. I was pregnant at the time and had my health visitor coming that week so I thought I would ask her advice.
"She said to take him straight to the hospital -Arlo had just turned five.”
Arlo was then taken to St Mary's Hospital, Newport, Isle of Wight for a routine eye test and for an ultrasound. Megan said: "At this point, we knew there was something wrong.
"The doctor told us there was a very large mass at the back of Arlo’s eye, he then called another doctor out of surgery to have a look at the photos. This doctor was from Moorfields Eye Hospital, he didn't confirm to us that it was cancer, but he made the referral up to the Royal London Hospital.”
Megan, Richard and Arlo travelled from the Isle of Wight to London for the assessment where Arlo was put under general anaesthetic. The doctors checked both of his eyes and confirmed he had a retinoblastoma in August 2023 and would need an operation to remove his right eye.
Megan said: "Being 36 weeks pregnant at the time I was extremely emotional. I rang my mum first and told her and then she said that she would tell the rest of the immediate family for us.
"My husband also made phone calls. He was my rock throughout it all.”
Arlo had his eye removed in August 2023, followed by four rounds...
To continue reading
Request your trial