Birmingham teenager’s relief to return to school after brain tumour surgery

Honey was diagnosed with the rare brain tumour in 2019

A teenager diagnosed with a rare brain tumour when she was 10 years old is relieved to be back at school after surgery to remove it, her mum says.

Doctors first thought pains in Honey's legs were growing pains but her mum Julie said her "mother's instinct was telling me there was more to it".

Honey was told last year the tumour had grown and had surgery to remove it.

The 15-year-old, from Birmingham, returned to school this month and Julie said she was keen to be back.

"To look at her, you wouldn't know everything Honey has been through," her mother said.

Julie, 36, said her daughter was tested from the age of six but after four years of tests, doctors could not see anything wrong and thought they were growing pains.

"It got to the point where Honey was limping because to walk was too painful at times. My mother's instinct was telling me there was more to it," Julie said.

"I pushed for a referral to the hospital, but never expected to be told that Honey had something growing in her brain."

Mum Julie said she had an instinct that Honey's leg pains were not growing pains

After five years of stable scans since her diagnosis in 2019, Honey found out her tumour, called a cerebellopontine angle epidermoid cyst, had grown.

"Doctors told us that Honey probably had the tumour when she was in the womb which is terrifying to think about," Julie said.

"Had her tumour not been found when it was, Honey could have been left with irreversible conditions and our story may have been very different."

In January, two months after the surgery, the Year 10 pupil returned to school in time to take part in her mock GCSEs.

Her mother said Honey was glad to be back for them, especially drama, which was her favourite subject.

"To look at her, you wouldn't know everything Honey has been through," she said.

"We feel fortunate that she can return to school and lead the life you'd expect a 15-year-old should."

Julie (left) said her daughter was keen to be back at school

In February, Julie will take part in Brain Tumour Research's 10,000 Steps a Day challenge to raise money for the charity.

"It's heartbreaking brain tumours kill more children and adults under the age of 40 than any other cancer. I'm determined to be part of the solution," she added.