Poppy, a lovely and energetic six-year-old from Preston, began experiencing unusual episodes at the young age of one in 2019, which were initially dismissed by doctors. After months of concern, tests revealed a ganglioglioma, a low-grade brain tumour, causing severe seizures. Following an 11-hour surgery to remove the tumour, Poppy made a remarkable recovery and was declared tumour-free after five years of scans. Grateful for her survival, Poppy’s family is raising funds for Brain Tumour Research to support other families and raise awareness on Wear a Hat Day 2025.
Here’s Poppy’s story, as told by her mum, Katie…
Poppy is a bright and caring little girl who loves maths, swimming, and attending Rainbows. She’s full of life and has a knack of making friends wherever she goes. She’s also incredibly resilient, having faced more challenges in her six years than most people do in a lifetime.
The nightmare started in August 2019, just after Poppy turned one. She began having strange episodes where she would just stare into space, click her tongue, and then fall asleep suddenly like she passed out. At first, we didn’t know what to think but it was far from normal behaviour. We took her to A&E at Preston Hospital multiple times, but because the doctors didn’t witness the episodes, they dismissed our concerns. We were told it could be teething or just "babies doing strange things”.
Although they are experts, deep down, I knew something wasn’t right. The episodes became more frequent, and soon she started twitching on one side of her body and, as she had just started walking, she would fall over when it happened. It was terrifying to watch.
Finally, after weeks of pushing, Poppy was admitted to the hospital where an MRI scan found a shadow on her brain.
At that point, doctors weren’t sure if it was a tumour or an infection. She had recently had chickenpox, so they considered meningitis or encephalitis and treated her with intravenous antibiotics and antivirals for a month.
The uncertainty was unbearable. I felt like I was living in hell, terrified that Poppy might die. She was so little and didn’t understand what was happening, but being in the hospital was hard for her. She had to have a line fitted because the cannulas kept coming out, and a lumbar puncture that was traumatic because the sedation didn’t work well.
After a second MRI confirmed the shadow was still there, we were transferred to Manchester Children’s Hospital for further treatment. A biopsy revealed it was a ganglioglioma, a low-grade tumour. While it wasn’t cancerous, it was causing severe seizures – up to ten a day – despite being on the highest doses of two epilepsy medications.
In November 2019, Poppy underwent an 11-hour surgery to remove the tumour. It was the longest and most terrifying day of my life.
Colin and I waited in the hospital, praying for good news. The surgeon believed he had removed the entire tumour, and Poppy’s recovery was nothing short of miraculous. She was expected to be in intensive care for a week but only needed two days before moving to the regular ward. She came off morphine quickly and was walking around soon after.
From that day forward, she never had another seizure. She was gradually weaned off her epilepsy medication, and after five years of regular scans, she was officially declared tumour-free!
The journey has left its mark on all of us. I still feel anxious and traumatised by everything we went through, but I’m also incredibly grateful. I know not every family gets this outcome, and I don’t take it for granted.
That’s why we’re hosting a Mad Hatter’s Tea Party for Wear a Hat Day 2025.
It’s a celebration of Poppy’s resilience and a way to give back to the charity that supports families like ours. We’re inviting family, friends, and Poppy’s classmates, football team, and Rainbows group for an evening of fun, food, and fundraising. This will be a wonderful way to bring closure to this terrifying chapter in all our lives, including for her brother, Jack, who was deeply affected by witnessing his sister’s seizures.
This experience has taught us to cherish every moment and to never take anything for granted. It’s also shown me the importance of trusting your instincts as a parent. If something doesn’t feel right, keep pushing for answers.
Brain tumours are devastating, and research is severely underfunded. I hope our story can help raise awareness and support for the vital work being done to find a cure.
Katie Sinnott
March 2025
One in three people in the UK knows someone affected by a brain tumour. This disease is indiscriminate; it can affect anyone at any age. What’s more, brain tumours continue to kill more children and adults under the age of 40 than any other cancer yet, to date, just 1% of the national spend on cancer research has been allocated to this devastating disease since records began in 2002.
Brain Tumour Research is determined to change this.
If you have been inspired by Poppy’s story, you may like to make a donation via www.braintumourresearch.org/donate or leave a gift in your will via www.braintumourresearch.org/legacy
Together we will find a cure
[Ac1]DE007B - for internal Brain Tumour Research use