A heartbroken mum has spoken out about her daughter’s heartbreaking journey, claiming that her baby girl passed away following months of delays and uncertainty after a lump appeared on her face.

Nineteen-month-old Delilah-Rai sadly passed away on August 10, after her mum, Kayleigh Reid, first noticed a small lump while bathing her.

Mum-of-five Kayleigh, 27, immediately became concerned and booked a GP appointment after discovering the pea-sized lump on January 30.

At first, Kayleigh thought it might be a cyst, but she was also worried about the possibility of a more serious condition.

However, when Delilah-Rai’s dad took her to the doctor, Kayleigh claims the lump was not properly examined.

Instead, the parents were reportedly suspected of causing an injury, and the little girl was referred to hospital for further assessment.

Kayleigh told BirminghamLive: “When we first found the lump, I was worried because you always hear that lumps can potentially be cancerous.

“I found it on the evening of January 30 after bathing her. I rang the GP the following morning to get her an appointment.

“From what he (her dad) says, they didn’t really examine the lump and were quick to assume it was an injury caused by one of us.”

The following day, Delilah-Rai was taken to Russells Hall Hospital in Dudley, West Midlands.

A CT scan revealed a paranasal cystic lesion, and she was referred to an ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialist.

Although Kayleigh was reportedly told she would hear back within a week, she claims the referral was never made.

After repeatedly following up, Delilah-Rai was eventually given an ENT appointment in April.

But during the lengthy three-month wait, the lump continued to grow on the little girl’s face.

Following the ENT consultation, Delilah-Rai was referred to Birmingham Children’s Hospital.

However, Kayleigh was initially told her daughter might have to wait another three months to be seen.

Determined to speed things up, she sent photographs showing how quickly the lump was growing, eventually securing an appointment just days later.

After undergoing scans in May, the family were called in a month later to discuss the results.

Doctors decided that Delilah-Rai needed a biopsy, which was scheduled for July 16.

Two weeks later, Kayleigh was told her daughter had desmoid fibromatosis, a rare soft-tissue growth that had already begun affecting her bones.

Specialists discussed removing bones in her jaw, nose, cheekbones and around her left eye, with a titanium plate intended to replace the affected areas.

Delilah-Rai’s surgery was scheduled for August 7.

But just two days before the planned procedure, doctors changed their decision and cancelled the operation.

Further assessments determined that Delilah-Rai had an extremely rare and aggressive form of desmoid fibromatosis.

Chemotherapy was planned, but surgery was later considered too risky.

Heartbreakingly, Delilah-Rai passed away just a few days later, on August 10.

A GoFundMe page was subsequently set up for the little girl by a family friend, Chelsea Green, to support her grieving family.

Writing on the fundraising page, she said: “My friend’s daughter, Delilah-Rai, sadly passed away on August 10 at just 19 months old.

“She was diagnosed with desmoid fibromatosis, an extremely rare condition.

“No family should ever have to experience the pain of losing such a beautiful little girl.

“I am hoping everyone can donate whatever they can, as every little bit helps Kayleigh and her family during this heartbreaking time.”

More than £2,500 has since been raised to support the devastated family.

Source: thesun.ie