AN EMOTIONAL mother admits she feared her young daughter would die after the youngster was diagnosed with a life-threatening brain tumour.
Sienna Lindfield was just three years old when doctors found out she had neurofibromatosis type 1 – a rare condition which causes tumours to grow along your nerves.
The condition led to Sienna, who attends Jane Duke Primary School in Basildon, developing a life-threatening brain tumour.
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She underwent crucial surgery to have a shunt fitted and relieve the build-up of fluid and pressure in her head.
But several months later, young Sienna is now on the mend and has been sharing her story to help spread awareness of her condition.
“It's been a whirlwind of emotion and a total blur," mum Louise Lindfield, 34, said while looking back on the past few years.
"When you get told your daughter has got a brain tumour you can’t help but fear she might die."
A happy and healthy Sienna was treated to a day of fun and activities with her fellow year two pupils last week as they learned about her condition.
“She absolutely loved it. She was beaming from the minute she got there and had an amazing day,” Ms Lindfield said.
The single mother-of-three was full of praise for the school.
“The headteacher Mrs Phelps-Knights is brilliant, it’s just astounding what she does for the children there.
“Anything I need the school help with. They have set up one-to-one care for Sienna, so she is constantly monitored at school, which for me is a massive weight lifted of my shoulders.”
Things weren’t always so straightforward for the family, however.
The first three years of Sienna’s life was a “struggle” as Ms Lindfield battled to get a diagnoses for her daughter.
“It was awful, she wouldn’t feed properly. Her breathing was laboured, her face was constantly swollen.
“It was really tough. I just felt horrible as a parent because I knew something was wrong, but no one would take me seriously.”
But now receiving care at King’s College Hospital, the family are able to get the help and support they need.
Ms Linfield added the charity Children’s Tumour Foundation had been a massive help over the years.
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