A cheerful young boy named Bertie, aged 10, who had a passion for football, suddenly experienced a complete loss of vision in his right eye, despite having worn glasses for six years.

Concerned about his son’s sudden vision loss, Bertie’s mother, Cara Busby, took him to an optician in January for an eye examination. The optician initially suggested that the issue might resolve on its own and advised them to wait.

However, when Bertie’s vision did not improve, they revisited the optician in July, after which he was referred to an eye hospital for further investigations due to the persistent visual impairment.

Following multiple tests, including an MRI scan, it was revealed that Bertie had a rare and sizable tumor on the right side of his head, causing his vision loss. The tumor was identified as a non-cancerous schwannoma tumor.

After a lengthy 13-hour surgery to remove part of the tumor, Bertie faced a challenging recovery. Despite the operation, he continues to struggle with vision in his right eye due to the tumor’s impact on his optic nerve.

In addition to the vision impairment, Bertie underwent further medical procedures, including a skin graft from his leg, leading to ongoing discomfort and numbness in his head and face.

Despite the challenges, Bertie’s family remains hopeful for his recovery, with plans for rigorous monitoring and genetic testing to understand the underlying causes of his condition.

Reflecting on their journey, Cara emphasized the importance of trusting instincts and advocating for proper medical attention. The family has set up a GoFundMe page to support Bertie during his recovery.

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