A TEEN’S headaches were repeatedly misdiagnosed as long Covid before doctors found a brain tumour.
Kane Allcock was 15, and had been in severe pain. He became dizzy when his migraines got worse.
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He was only given painkillers to manage the symptoms, which he got when he contracted the virus. Doctors repeated their belief that he was suffering post-Covid vertigo.
After a seizure, doctors found the large tumor and sent him for a brain scanner. It was finally removed after seven-and-a half hours of surgery, almost four months after his headaches started.
Mum Nicki, of Crewe, Cheshire, said: “I knew something wasn’t right. Kane was shaking in pain and holding his head. He couldn’t walk properly.
“The message I was getting was that he was still just suffering from migraines.”
After catching Covid on New Years Eve, Kane, a budding footballer, first experienced headaches.
When he arrived at the tournament in April, he felt sick and immediately went to bed.
Following blood tests, they were once again informed that it was just a headache. He was then prescribed codeine.
Doctors diagnosed Nicki with pressure buildup on his brain. After Nicki lost all patience with them, they discovered a large tumour.
She had taken him to A&E with husband Steve and decided they would admit him for overnight tests. She also reported to a nurse that she noticed a small dent at the back of her husband’s head.
The seizure occurred the next day, and he was sent to an MRI scan. The brain tumour was also found.
Kane was taken to Alder Hey Hospital in Liverpool, where he received life-saving treatment.
Nicki, a mother-of-two, said that the car ride following her son was the best. “longest 50 minutes of our lives”.
Kane was immediately taken to an operation to treat hydrocephalus. Two days later, he had surgery to remove his entire tumour.
Histology reports confirmed that the tumour was non-cancerous and low-grade pilocytic astrocytoma.
After additional surgery, he was given the all clear and discharged just four days later.
However, he was taken to hospital for stitches after a wound leaked.
He continued to leak and went back to surgery to stitch the wound.
When his hydrocephalus flared back up, he had to have the spinal drain inserted. He was forced to stay flat for five more days before it was finally removed.
Kane’s parents stayed at a free hotel near the hospital, and were taken in by Ronald McDonald House charity.
Philippa Bradbury, regional community fundraiser at the charity, said: “It is our pleasure to be able to support families like the Allcocks, helping to ease the financial and emotional burden of having a sick child in hospital.”
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