Father’s shock after baby’s ‘shiny, golden’ eye turned out to be cancerous tumor

The family of a 21-month-old girl said they were “shocked” to discover their daughter’s “shiny, golden” eye was actually a cancerous tumor.

Saint-Hallie, from Waltham-Cross in Hertfordshire, was diagnosed with eye cancer in March after his parents noticed a sparkle in his eye and changes in his behavior.

Her father Jaden Kish, 37, originally thought her golden eyes simply meant she had different colored eyes when he spotted her in November.

But after visiting the GP to have it checked out, he was told it was a cancerous tumor and St. Hallie was diagnosed with retinoblastoma.

“Around November, we noticed his left eye was bright and shiny,” the father of three said. The independent. “We thought it might be a child with special different colored eyes, but just to be sure we called the GP.”

Jaden had also noticed that his daughter didn’t allow people to pick her up, but hadn’t considered that she might have cancer.

The speaker said: “I was very, very surprised when they told me she had cancer. At first I didn’t believe it, but then they reassured me and sent me to Great Ormond Street Hospital.

Saint-Hallie underwent surgery to remove one of his eyes within days of his diagnosis and has been undergoing intensive chemotherapy since April.

Jaden described her symptoms as “heartbreaking” as she is now unable to walk due to the impact of the treatment.

She also vomits frequently, is in pain, and cannot eat or drink without a feeding tube. Jaden added that she also misses spending time with her two siblings, a four-year-old brother and a two-year-old sister, as she remains in hospital.

He said: “Before St. Hallie’s operation she didn’t like to be held, but since then she wants cuddles all the time. I think she must be suffering but she can’t tell us.

Missing key milestones, such as starting nursery, is a distressing result of her diagnosis, as her parents fear she will be deprived of important childhood experiences.

Luckily, she has been able to feel some sense of normality thanks to the help of staff at Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH), who are making her stay in hospital as fun as possible.

“It’s been a very difficult journey, but one thing that makes it easier is GOSH,” he said. “They keep you involved and the playing team is always there, which has made a big difference because it doesn’t always feel like they’re in the hospital.”

He added: “The services funded by GOSH Charity have made such a difference. The play team makes sure St. Hallie always has toys to play with – she loves the electric train. When the music therapist came to visit, she sat very close and Saint-Hallie started strumming the guitar. I found it very moving and started to cry.

“Moments like this helped her rediscover her childhood. That’s why I wanted to share our story – so more people can understand the important work they do.

Jaden is sharing St. Hallie’s story as part of a campaign to ensure no childhood is lost to serious illness.

Louise Parkes, chief executive of GOSH Charity, said: “At GOSH Charity we do everything we can to give seriously ill children the best chance and childhood possible. We fund essential services and research that drive progress, because we believe that no childhood should be lost to serious illness and that every child deserves to have as many experiences growing up as possible.

“That’s why we’re inviting the public to join us and donate today, as we work to give seriously ill children the best chance and childhood possible.” »