{"id":522721,"date":"2026-04-10T04:35:14","date_gmt":"2026-04-10T04:35:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/522721\/"},"modified":"2026-04-10T04:35:14","modified_gmt":"2026-04-10T04:35:14","slug":"teenage-girl-who-was-repeatedly-sent-home-from-hospital-with-painkillers-for-her-migraines-is-told-she-has-just-weeks-to-live","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/522721\/","title":{"rendered":"Teenage girl who was repeatedly sent home from hospital with painkillers for her &#8216;migraines&#8217; is told she has just weeks to live"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">At the age of 19, Ella-Louise Moroney should be enjoying the carefree years of early adulthood, spending time with family and friends, and looking ahead to the future.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Instead, the teenager from Peterborough is facing a devastating diagnosis &#8211; one that was almost missed by her physicians.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Only one month ago, the former early years worker was told she had an aggressive, cancerous brain tumour and, without urgent surgery, just weeks to live.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">And her path to diagnosis was far from straightforward.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Ms Moroney, who had been suffering persistent migraines for two months before diagnosis, was sent home from hospital on two separate occasions, each visit ending with painkillers and other medications.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">It was only when her mother insisted on further investigation that doctors carried out a scan \u2013 confirming the family&#8217;s worst fears: a fast-growing, highly malignant tumour in her frontal lobe.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">However, even after finding the tumour, Ms Moroney said doctors tried to send her home once more.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">And to make matters worse, her tumour is so rare that neither Ms Moroney&#8217;s consultant nor oncologist had encountered it before, making treatment especially challenging.<\/p>\n<p>   <img decoding=\"async\" id=\"i-5ca65896b0962eb5\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/107519857-15690601-image-m-24_1774869488154.jpg\" height=\"732\" width=\"634\" alt=\"Just weeks ago, Ella-Louise Moroney (pictured) was diagnosed with an aggressive, cancerous brain tumour and told that without urgent surgery, she had just weeks to live\" class=\"blkBorder img-share\" style=\"max-width:100%\" loading=\"lazy\" \/>   <\/p>\n<p class=\"imageCaption\">Just weeks ago, Ella-Louise Moroney (pictured) was diagnosed with an aggressive, cancerous brain tumour and told that without urgent surgery, she had just weeks to live<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Her sister, Deanne Moroney, has now launched a\u00a0<a style=\"font-weight: bold;\" class=\"class\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gofundme.com\/f\/medical-costs-travel-costs-wheelchair-costs\"><\/a><a style=\"font-weight: bold;\" class=\"class\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gofundme.com\/f\/medical-costs-travel-costs-wheelchair-costs\">GoFundMe to help cover the mounting costs she faces, from medical devices, to travel for the numerous appointments she requires.\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Speaking to the Daily Mail, Ms Moroney described how her symptoms were repeatedly dismissed, leading to a frightening and prolonged medical ordeal that still has no clear end.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">She said: &#8216;The first time I went to hospital in late January was because of migraines, which I had been suffering with since last summer. I was sent home with sumatriptan \u2013 a medicine to treat the migraines.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">&#8216;I then went back to the same hospital the following Sunday and I was sent away again with Naproxen for pain and another tablet.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">&#8216;I went to my partner&#8217;s house shortly after this. His mum had made me food, and I literally just couldn&#8217;t even look at the food.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">&#8216;I got really confused all of a sudden and got in touch with my mum, who said that something doesn&#8217;t really seem right.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">&#8216;So, I ended up calling 111 and going back to hospital that night.&#8217;<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Even then, she said, doctors initially appeared ready to discharge her once more.<\/p>\n<p>   <img decoding=\"async\" id=\"i-ad5622205530eb9b\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/107519859-15690601-image-m-26_1774869901912.jpg\" height=\"747\" width=\"634\" alt=\"Ms Moroney (pictured) has a Grade 4 atypical teratoid\/rhabdoid tumour (AT\/RT) in her frontal lobe \u00bf a highly aggressive and fast-growing cancer that is extremely rare in adults\" class=\"blkBorder img-share\" style=\"max-width:100%\" loading=\"lazy\" \/>   <\/p>\n<p class=\"imageCaption\">Ms Moroney (pictured) has a Grade 4 atypical teratoid\/rhabdoid tumour (AT\/RT) in her frontal lobe \u2013 a highly aggressive and fast-growing cancer that is extremely rare in adults<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">It was only after her mother demanded a scan that her condition was taken seriously. Yet even after the scan revealed a brain tumour, Ms Moroney said staff still attempted to send her home.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Ms Moroney said: &#8216;I was sick in hospital and was brought to a side room for triage.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">&#8216;I was told that I would be seen in the next 20 to 25 minutes and there were loads of different doctors coming in to see me.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">&#8216;My mum had to demand that I have a scan, because they were going to send me home again.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">&#8216;I got put into a ward and then one of the stroke nurses came round to see me. This is when we discovered that I had a brain tumour.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">&#8216;At this stage the doctors didn&#8217;t know that the tumour was cancer because they hadn&#8217;t done a biopsy. They had only done a CT scan.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">&#8216;About half an hour later, another nurse came in to see me and basically said that the hospital wanted to discharge me. But at this point I had already been told that I had a tumour.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">&#8216;So, my mum said: &#8220;No, she&#8217;s not going home.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>   <img decoding=\"async\" id=\"i-f046d34dc0962db8\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/107519853-15690601-image-m-25_1774869669754.jpg\" height=\"718\" width=\"634\" alt=\"Ms Moroney (pictured) remains determined to stay positive, and has began having her eggs harvested for later use\" class=\"blkBorder img-share\" style=\"max-width:100%\" loading=\"lazy\" \/>   <\/p>\n<p class=\"imageCaption\">Ms Moroney (pictured) remains determined to stay positive, and has began having her eggs harvested for later use<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Ms Moroney \u2013 who has chosen not to name the hospital where she was first treated \u2013 was later transferred to Addenbrooke&#8217;s Hospital in Cambridge, where she received further care and devastating news.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Ms Moroney said: &#8216;It was at Addenbrooke&#8217;s that doctors told me if I did not have surgery to remove the tumour as soon as possible, I would have a month to live.&#8217;\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">&#8216;I had surgery on the 17th of February. I had a professor doing my surgery and he came round in morning of the surgery and basically said to me, we need to go now because it&#8217;s getting bigger.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">&#8216;Thankfully, they got most of the tumour out.&#8217;<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">However, a biopsy later confirmed her worst fears.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Ms Moroney has a Grade 4 atypical teratoid\/rhabdoid tumour (AT\/RT) in her frontal lobe \u2013 a highly aggressive and fast-growing cancer that is extremely rare in adults, more commonly affecting children under five.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">She said: &#8216;After surgery, most of the tumour was removed, but chemotherapy and radiotherapy are still very much needed.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">&#8216;The tumour is very rare and it&#8217;s very uncommon for young adults in my group. It is more common in children under five.<\/p>\n<p>   <img decoding=\"async\" id=\"i-cc409231d79c5c\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/107519855-15690601-image-m-50_1774870093043.jpg\" height=\"735\" width=\"634\" alt=\"Ms Moroney's (pictured)\u00a0family are facing mounting costs, including travel for treatment, ongoing medical expenses and essential equipment such as a wheelchair to aid her recovery\" class=\"blkBorder img-share\" style=\"max-width:100%\" loading=\"lazy\" \/>   <\/p>\n<p class=\"imageCaption\">Ms Moroney&#8217;s (pictured)\u00a0family are facing mounting costs, including travel for treatment, ongoing medical expenses and essential equipment such as a wheelchair to aid her recovery<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">&#8216;The consultant also said that there&#8217;s hardly any cases that are documented, which is why treatment is quite tricky. They just don&#8217;t really have a lot of information on my age range because it&#8217;s normally children that are so young.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">&#8216;The consultant said that in his career he hadn&#8217;t encountered this type of tumour. In their careers, both him and the oncologist who seen me had not seen this tumour in my age group before.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">&#8216;It is very hard news to take in because there&#8217;s not enough research into it, so it is very hard to kind of sit back and just have to kind of accept the fact that we just don&#8217;t know anything.&#8217;<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">She is now preparing to begin an intensive course of treatment at UCL Hospital in London, starting with eight weeks of chemotherapy, followed by radiotherapy, and then a further eight weeks of chemotherapy.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Despite the enormity of her situation, Ms Moroney, who studied an apprenticeship in childcare, remains determined to stay positive.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">She said: &#8216;I am having my eggs harvested at the moment. So that is postponing the chemotherapy and radiation. But that treatment is due to start in early April.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">&#8216;I am having chemo first for eight weeks and then I&#8217;ll travel to London for proton radiotherapy.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">&#8216;As much as I can, I try and make a joke out of it kind of thing because if not, there&#8217;s nothing else that I can do.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">&#8216;I am as optimistic as much as I can because I know that the doctors are doing everything that they can, and obviously I&#8217;m getting the best treatment that I can.&#8217;<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Since undergoing surgery, she says her migraines have disappeared \u2013 though she continues to cope with the physical effects of the procedure.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">She said: &#8216;I haven&#8217;t had any headaches since I had surgery, it&#8217;s been crazy, I haven&#8217;t had to take paracetamol at all for my headaches.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">&#8216;But because I&#8217;m still recovering from the brain surgery, I am still quite slow and my walking has changed quite a lot as well. Like I&#8217;ve just had really messed up knees.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">&#8216;I&#8217;ll wake up some mornings and my knees will just be in like excruciating pain.&#8217;<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Meanwhile, her family are facing mounting costs, including travel for treatment, ongoing medical expenses and essential equipment such as a wheelchair to aid her recovery.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Sister Deanne <a style=\"font-weight: bold;\" class=\"class\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gofundme.com\/f\/medical-costs-travel-costs-wheelchair-costs\">has since launched a GoFundMe appeal with a target of \u00a39,000 to help support her through treatment.<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Deanne said: &#8216;I set the fundraiser up in hopes to raise some money to support the costs of travel, medical expenses and things like a wheelchair for Ella.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">&#8216;We also want to raise brain cancer awareness and we have almost hit our goal, which we are so grateful for. There has been support by so many people already.&#8217;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"At the age of 19, Ella-Louise Moroney should be enjoying the carefree years of early adulthood, spending time&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":522722,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[1190,97,96,59,102,388,56,54,55],"class_list":{"0":"post-522721","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-entertainment","8":"tag-cambridge","9":"tag-dailymail","10":"tag-entertainment","11":"tag-gb","12":"tag-health","13":"tag-london","14":"tag-uk","15":"tag-united-kingdom","16":"tag-unitedkingdom"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/522721","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=522721"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/522721\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/522722"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=522721"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=522721"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=522721"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}