Girl, 4, given all-clear after brain tumour missed

Parents Laura and Sean said they were initially told Poppy had epilepsy

A four-year-old girl has been given the all clear after her brain tumour diagnosis was initially "missed" by doctors.

Laura and Sean, from Mansfield Woodhouse in Nottinghamshire, took daughter Poppy to their GP in September 2023 after she developed a "vacant look and a vibration through her body".

After being referred for further tests, they were initially given a diagnosis of epilepsy and told by Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Trust they did not qualify for an MRI scan.

However, the family challenged the decision and the subsequent scan in April 2024 revealed a tumour requiring surgery.

Following Poppy's successful operation, her mother Laura said: "We've been continuing life as normal now... I can't describe how good that sounds."

A recent scan showed no change in Poppy's brain

Poppy underwent ten hours of surgery at Nottingham's Queen's Medical Centre in September where her tumour was successfully removed.

Afterwards, the girl was scheduled to have follow-up scans every three months but after the most recent scan showed no changes, the family has been told she only needs to be checked every six months.

Poppy remains on her anti-seizure medication but doctors hope to eventually ween her off it.

Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust apologised to the family last year and said it would be acting on feedback to improve future care.

Her parents said Poppy was suffering from repeated seizures and pushed for more tests

Laura told the BBC: "When we found out [about the tumour] our world just fell apart. We were at the hospital a lot but when I was home I couldn't get out of bed. The wider family carried us that initial week.

"All you hear is your daughter has got a brain tumour and you think of the worst straight away, and that my baby is going to die.

"She's been through more in her four short years than I will ever go through - she's amazing.

"Throughout her seizures and her initial diagnosis I was in tears 24/7 and she would be comforting me, asking why I was crying.

"I can't explain how proud we are of her, she's a fighter."

Poppy has now started school which she "absolutely loves" her mother said

Poppy has also started school which her family say she "absolutely loves".

"It's hard to believe. We thought this might not have happened," Laura said.

"On her third birthday we were excited about her next part of life and we were hit with this devastating news - she'd been really poorly in the lead-up to it.

"On her fourth birthday she sat and opened her presents, and it was so amazing."

Poppy has also joined a stage school and "loves being the centre of attention" - something her mother thinks is probably down to all the fuss she had during her treatment.

"I will forever be in that surgeon's debt, not only did he remove the tumour but she has no after effects - I owe him my life," Laura said.

The family has organised a fundraiser for The Brain Tumour Charity in order to help other children in the same situation.