Jessica Gibson was born weighing a healthy 7.11lbs after a straightforward labour on the 9th March 2021. Up until Jessica was 4 months old she was gaining weight normally. On the 12th July Jessica’s right eye started moving rapidly from side to side. This prompted a visit to the GP who referred Jessica for further examination at hospital and advised this could take 3-4 months. Jessica’s mum and dad didn’t want to wait that long so they took her to see a private paediatric ophthalmology. While waiting to hear from this consultant Jessica’s weight started to decline and after a visit from her health visitor and doctor she was admitted to Wishaw on 29th July. Wishaw was treating Jessica for reflux and tried tirelessly to get Jessica to gain weight. During this time they were in contact with Glasgow Royal hospital to chase up an MRI scan.

Finally on the 10th August Jessica had her MRI scan and her family received the devastating news that there was a large mass in Jessica’s brain & several smaller tumours in her spine. Jessica was immediately admitted to the Royal hospital and a plan put in place. Jessica went through 5 major operations in a matter of weeks. Results of the biopsy came back and Jessica was diagnosed with pilocytic astrocytoma but there were concerns as the tumour wasn’t behaving “normally” hers was aggressive instead of slow growing but they were positive they could cure this. Jessica was put on a course of chemotherapy called vinblastine which she would receive on a weekly basis for 70 weeks. Her follow up scan was organised once she had received her 9th treatment however this had to be delayed for 2 weeks because Jessica had to go for another operation this time to revise her shunt which hadn’t been working. Her follow up scan showed significant growth for all her tumours. Surgery was discussed but then the decision was made to try a new chemotherapy as surgery would only tackle the larger mass which would allow time for the others to grow while recovering.

On the 2nd of November she started a course of vincristin and carboplatin but the weekend that followed Jessica spiked a temperature at home and was admitted to hospital again. Her stomach was extremely bloated and concerns were raised that she had an infection. Surgery was then performed to externalise her shunt as the fluid wasn’t being absorbed and could be causing irritation to her stomach. There were also concerns that if there was an infection the tubing from her shunt in her stomach could create a path for the infection to travel to her brain.

On the 10th November the decision was made that Jessica was too weak for any more surgery or chemotherapy and on 12th November Jessica was sent home in an ambulance on palliative care. Jessica’s family are doing everything they can to get Jessica stronger and healthier researching alternative remedies/treatments speaking to specialists in these fields to help Jessica fight this. They are currently dealing with a private consultant in Thailand who specialises in natural remedies. At the tender age of 8 months Jessica has endured 5 major operations, 3 types of chemo and spent 3 months in hospital, her little fragile body is tired but she fights on, she is a true lioness. While Jessica & her family were going through everything this horrible cancer had to throw at them they raised £4000 for the charity “Young Lives versus Cancer” in September 2021, this family just continues to blow me away with their unselfish outlook.

Jessica is still fighting but she can’t do this on her own! We need help for the family, her mum Gillian, dad Andrew & brother Ethan age 6 need our support at this difficult time. I want to raise money for the family to allow them to continue to fight this horrible disease & give them access to several possible treatments outside of the UK. We are also fighting against time to get Jessica as strong as possible as there is a Cell Therapy treatment in the UK that is incredibly expensive.

If you can donate, it would be greatly appreciated and please please reshare on your social media platforms, we must spread awareness.

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