{"id":763826,"date":"2026-09-08T10:04:24","date_gmt":"2026-09-08T10:04:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/763826\/"},"modified":"2026-09-08T10:04:24","modified_gmt":"2026-09-08T10:04:24","slug":"mother-tells-how-nail-infection-led-to-diagnosis-of-baby-sons-brain-tumour","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/763826\/","title":{"rendered":"Mother tells how nail infection led to diagnosis of baby son\u2019s brain tumour"},"content":{"rendered":"

A mother has spoken of how her son narrowly survived a brain tumour that medics discovered only as they looked into a tiny fingernail infection.<\/p>\n

Sam Sharp, 39, gave birth to her son in 2020.<\/p>\n

Just 11 days later, Joey, from Penicuik, Midlothian, was taken to hospital after he struggled to feed, lost weight and developed jaundice that would not let up.<\/p>\n

He also began twitching intermittently.<\/p>\n

Doctors investigated a small infection in one of his fingernails and an ultrasound revealed it was a brain tumour causing his symptoms.<\/p>\n

Ms Sharp, an orthopaedic nurse, said: \u201cJoey had only been home for a week and we were having visits from the midwife and health visitor every day because his newborn jaundice wasn\u2019t improving, he wasn\u2019t feeding well and he\u2019d started losing weight.<\/p>\n

\"JoeyPA MediaJoey in hospital with his mother PA Media<\/p>\n

\u201cHe was also having tiny spasms while feeding but, at the time, the midwives couldn\u2019t quite work out what was causing them.<\/p>\n

\u201cOnce we were in hospital, doctors noticed what looked like a tiny infection in one of his fingernails. It was so small, almost like a grain of sand under the nail. We had no idea then that within hours we\u2019d be facing every parent\u2019s worst nightmare.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joey underwent three brain surgeries and nine rounds of chemotherapy afterwards, with two operations to remove the tumour, and a third to help alleviate the scar tissue that remained, which had prevented drugs from treating his seizures.<\/p>\n

At this point, he suffered from more than 30 epileptic seizures a day, and needed feeding tubes to eat.<\/p>\n

He took part in clinical trials to help researchers gain a better understanding of chemotherapy treatment for babies.<\/p>\n

Ms Sharp said: \u201cWe were told that without surgery that day, Joey was unlikely to survive.<\/p>\n

\u201cI can still remember that conversation as though it happened yesterday. Because it was during the Covid pandemic, my husband Steven had already been sent home under the hospital restrictions, so I was sitting there alone with our tiny baby while doctors explained what they\u2019d found.<\/p>\n

\"JoeyPA MediaJoey with Sam, Steven and sister Carly PA Media<\/p>\n

\u201cAs a nurse, I understood enough to know how serious the situation was, but nothing prepares you for hearing words like that about your own child.<\/p>\n

\u201cThankfully, the hospital staff made sure my husband was allowed back in before Joey was taken to theatre. Watching your newborn baby disappear through those theatre doors is something no parent should ever have to experience.\u201d<\/p>\n

Specialists, who took samples of the tumour, discovered it was a glioblastoma, an aggressive and incurable form of brain cancer.<\/p>\n

But on August 4 2021, towards the end of his treatment, the family received the news they had hoped for.<\/p>\n

Ms Sharp said: \u201cJoey was in the children\u2019s day ward receiving his final chemotherapy when our consultant walked over to us. I remember she had tears in her eyes.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was an open ward with lots of other families with very sick children around us, so she couldn\u2019t celebrate loudly, but she quietly told us Joey\u2019s latest scan showed no evidence of disease.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019d been preparing ourselves to hear that he would probably need more surgery after chemotherapy, so hearing those words was overwhelming. For the first time in months, we felt like we could finally breathe again.\u201d<\/p>\n

Now aged five, the youngster has cerebral palsy, with little use of his right hand, wears a leg brace and uses a wheelchair for longer distances.<\/p>\n

Despite his circumstances, his mother says he has a love for life, enjoying swimming and spending time with his siblings, eight-year-old Carly and one-year-old Robbie.<\/p>\n

He has also started school.<\/p>\n

Ms Sharp said: \u201cJoey is our little ray of sunshine. He\u2019s the kindest, funniest and most loving little boy you could ever meet. He fills every room with laughter and never lets anything hold him back.<\/p>\n

\u201cWatching him walk through those school gates was incredibly emotional, not just for our family but for the many doctors, nurses and therapists who have supported him since he was only 11 days old.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe approaches life with so much determination and happiness. The bond he now shares with his sister, Carly, and brother, Robbie, is incredible.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ms Sharp called for more investment in brain cancer research from the Scottish Government, with a deadline of 2029.<\/p>\n

She has also signed up for the Edinburgh Marathon next year, with donations to go to the Scottish Brain Tumour Research Centre of Excellence in a bid to find a cure for glioblastoma.<\/p>\n

\"Joey\u2019sPA MediaJoey\u2019s surgery scar PA Media<\/p>\n

Ms Sharp said: \u201cMore research means better treatments and, ultimately, more families getting the chance to watch their children grow up.<\/p>\n

\u201cI hope the work taking place at the Scottish Centre of Excellence will help improve outcomes for anyone facing this devastating diagnosis in the future.\u201d<\/p>\n

Scotland\u2019s Health Secretary Angela Constance said: \u201cMy heartfelt wishes go to Ms Sharp for sharing her son Joey\u2019s brave battle to overcome brain cancer.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Scottish Government shares their desire to further improve cancer survival and is taking action to improve the awareness and earlier diagnosis of cancers in Scotland. I would encourage anyone with unusual or persistent symptoms to contact their GP practice.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe published our cancer strategy for Scotland in 2023, with a focus on less survivable cancers, such as brain tumours and improving their outcomes.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are also the only nation in the UK to have a dedicated cancer strategy for children and young people, with work under way to renew this.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe welcome innovation in cancer care and continue to consider emerging evidence on new treatments and technologies to ensure patients can benefit from clinically effective advances.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dr Karen Noble, director of research and policy at Brain Tumour Research, said: \u201cNo family should have to face the uncertainty Sam and her family experienced when Joey was diagnosed at such a young age.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe urgently need greater investment in research into childhood brain tumours.\u201d<\/p>\n

STV News is now on WhatsApp<\/p>\n

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