A West Midlands teenager who was diagnosed with a brain tumour after years of being told she had growing pains, has returned to school just two months after surgery to sit her mock GCSEs.
Honey Ibbitson, from Birmingham, was 10 years old when she was given the devastating news of a mass in her brain in 2019. The shock revelation came after years of constant leg pain which doctors said were normal for her age.
Mum Julie, 36, said: “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. I pushed for a referral to the hospital, but never expected to be told that Honey had something growing in her brain.”
Honey, now 15, remained stable for five years but recent scans showed that her tumour, known as a cerebellopontine angle epidermoid cyst, had grown and she underwent surgery.
Julie, a hairdresser, said: “Honey is keen to get back to school for her mocks, especially drama which is her favourite subject.
“Doctors told us that Honey probably had the tumour when she was in the womb which is terrifying to think about.
Next month, Julie is putting her best foot forward by taking part in our 10,000 Steps a Day in February campaign.
“The work of Brain Tumour Research is vital if we are to understand the complexity of brain tumours and eventually find a cure. I’m determined to be part of the solution.”
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