WHEN little Maggie Salt’s eye became swollen and “gunky”, doctors initially dismissed the symptoms – but they turned out to be the first sign of a serious illness which eventually meant the tot lost her eye.

Her mum, Jennifer Salt, noticed something wasn’t right with Maggie’s left eye just weeks after she was born.

Despite reassurance from medics, the 40-year-old still had concerns, which were only heightened after she noticed a beige-coloured glow in the tot’s eye.

After multiple doctor’s visits, an ultrasound showed that the now four-year-old’s eye had a cloud-like structure.

It turned out to be retinoblastoma, a rare type of eye cancer that affects young children.

“It was completely shattering,” Jennifer, a project manager, from Chesterfield, said.

“Then, things were made worse, as we were told it was present in both eyes.

“Instead of letting it defeat me, I went into autopilot mode.

“I was determined to fight for my little girl.”

Maggie underwent checks as a newborn to rule out retinoblastoma, and then again a few weeks later after she rolled off the bed.

Neither spotted anything amiss.

Jennifer then noticed that Maggie had trouble focusing months before her diagnosis in November.

She shared her concerns with partner, Karl, 39, who agreed that something was seriously wrong.

The mum called her GP to make an appointment for Maggie, which was booked for two weeks later.

“In the meantime, I grew more concerned,” Jennifer said.

When researching her daughter’s symptoms, though, the mum-of-two had a hunch of what to expect next.

She said: “What I read deeply frightened me. I panicked that Maggie would lose her vision.”

Jennifer made a same-day appointment for Maggie a few days later, and mentioned her fears about retinoblastoma to the GP.

After examining the tot’s eye, he made an urgent two-week referral for Maggie to be assessed by the ophthalmology department at the local hospital.

“A week later I still hadn’t heard anything which was when I contacted them to ask when we would likely be seen,” Jennifer said.

“The receptionist said four to six weeks. I clarified that this was even with it being a two week pathway due to suspected cancer for a baby and she confirmed that it is still four to six weeks, which made my heart sink.

“I reached out to our local MP and told them how nobody was listening to me.

“Thankfully, it worked and we got the emergency appointment confirming everything I had feared.”

Within a few days, Maggie was seen by an ophthalmologist and she was referred to Birmingham Women’s and Children’s Hospital.

It was revealed that the tot, who now has no vision in her left eye, had bilateral retinoblastoma – Grade B in her right, and Grade E in her left.

At four months old, she had her first round of chemotherapy to shrink the tumours.

Sadly, as the left eye shrunk so much as a result of treatment, it had to be removed for good.

Jennifer said: “Watching the ordeal Maggie was going through took a toll on me. My emotional wellbeing declined.

“Her body rejected the implant, so the next option was to carry out a graft by taking fat from her bottom and inserting it into her eye.

“It just kept growing cysts, however. I questioned why nothing was working and felt like the world was punishing me.

“I couldn’t bear seeing her go through much more.”

In another devastating blow, it was found that Maggie had a mass on her pineal gland in the centre of her brain.

The family worried it was time to say goodbye – but, thankfully, it was only a cyst.

Despite trying to give Maggie a “normal” childhood, people often stare and make unkind remarks.

She said: “It was devastating to see her so self-conscious and fearful.

“I tried to let her know how beautiful and clever she was each day.

“When we got her a more realistic prosthetic eye, her confidence boosted; just in time for school.

“And, luckily, nobody seemed to notice at first.”

Due to the type of cancer, Maggie may still deal with tumours until she reaches six years old – as well as other types of cancer.

Jennifer hopes to share their ordeal – and the warning signs – so other parents are aware before it’s too late.

She added: “I’m so grateful for all the help we’ve received.

“Coping with a member of the family having cancer, particularly a child, is so gruelling.

“I hope there will be specific support given to families in the future for all the trauma they’re going through.

“I know it would’ve meant a lot to me, and still would if it were offered now.

“Maggie has had sclerotherapy to treat the cysts in her eye socket and is currently awaiting further treatment.

“But we’re not sure when that will be. We don’t know how much vision she has in her right eye yet, but we know that she’s got a significant amount.

“She’s got the biggest smile and such a zest for life.”

Source: The Sun