A simple eye test saved my little Kara's life
| Published date | 19 January 2022 |
But a trip to the optician for a precautionary check-up after school, a fortnight before Christmas, ended up saving her life.
On December 11, just four days after her visit to the optician, Kara had major surgery to remove a 4cm tumour from her brain.
The optician at her local Specsavers branch noticed Kara's optic nerve was swollen and immediately referred her to Hairmyres Hospital, where a scan confirmed the growth beneath her skull.
The devastating news came just months after Laura and husband Kevin, 44, almost lost their youngest daughter, Khloe, who was born with a rare lung condition in March last year.
"I couldn't believe what was happening," Laura said. "I thought she'd just need lenses or glasses. I didn't have time to process it all.
"On the Tuesday we were at the opticians being told her optic nerve was swollen and four days later, on the Friday, she's in surgery getting a brain tumour removed. It was scary.
"Me and her dad were allowed to go down to theatre with her. I was holding her hand and chatting about what she wanted for Christmas, and at the same time the anaesthetist whispered in my ear, '10 seconds before she falls asleep',' and I didn't know if it was going to be the last conversation I'd have with my wee girl."
The couple were warned that due to the location of the tumour there was a 20 per cent chance Kara's speech, learning and mobility would be impaired following the operation.
They were also told to prepare for their daughter to spend Christmas in hospital.
But remarkably Kara, who loves swimming, dancing and athletics, was well enough to go home on December 21 - in time to help her baby sister celebrate her first Christmas.
Laura added: "I asked 'how quickly will we know if she has any impairment?' and they said 'straight away', and we were bracing ourselves for her being this different person.
"But she's surprised us all at how she's just bounced back into the wee person she is.
"The tumour was the size of a golf ball and you just think, 'how did that fit in a seven-year-old's head without having any impairment'.
"She had no neurological symptoms to suggest there was something going on. She just got a few headaches on and off for a couple of weeks and a migraine, which was the trigger to take her to get her eyes tested."
Kara's eye appointment was after a normal day at school but...
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