Lily-Mae Filmer, with her mum Kayleigh Chapman, was diagnosed with a cold when she in fact had leukaemia. Picture: GoFundMe
A FIVE-YEAR-OLD girl was sent home by a nurse who insisted she just had a cold — but she was actually suffering from leukaemia.
Kayleigh Chapman, 29, went to her local GP surgery when little Lily-Mae Filmer’s spluttering cough started to get worse.
The mum-of-three also noticed bruise-like rashes appearing on the skin, which can be a telltale symptom of some forms of cancer, The Sun reports.
But instead of being referred to a GP or hospital, a nurse practitioner sent the pair home, saying she probably just had a virus.
But Kayleigh, of Worcestershire in the UK, knew something was wrong and returned just 48 hours later when more rashes started to appear, seeking a second opinion.
She demanded to see a GP and the schoolgirl was referred straight away to Worcestershire Royal Hospital.
Following a series of blood tests, Kayleigh was given the devastating news earlier this month that her daughter had acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.
Lily-Mae is now facing gruelling treatment. Picture: SWNS/MegaSource:Mega
The youngster now faces a gruelling two-year chemotherapy battle and has already started losing her hair.
Kayleigh, who runs a gardening business with husband Craig, said: “It just started with a cold and a cough.
“She was looking a bit off so I kept her off school and the next day she got worse.
“I noticed she had these red spots, bruises, like a rash.
“I took her to the GP and they made me an appointment with the nurse practitioner.
“She said it was just a virus or a cold and sent us home just like that.
“Two days later I woke up and the rash was everywhere. I knew there was something not quite right — call it mother’s intuition.”
Kayleigh said she was made to feel “like a paranoid mum” but demanded to see a GP for a second opinion.
She said: “I saw the nurse again but this time I wanted to see a doctor and a GP then had a look and they sent us to the hospital straight away. Within two hours they said she had leukaemia.
“It was absolutely horrendous. I know they want to keep GPs free for more serious cases but what could be more serious than cancer.
“She was displaying the symptoms but they weren’t spotted.
“I was just made to feel like a paranoid mum, who was overreacting but I knew there was something wrong with my daughter.
“We are devastated but we’ve got to stay strong for her.
“What I want to do is raise awareness of how fast it can all happen.”
Lily-Mae’s telltale red spots that developed into a rash. Picture: SWNS/MegaSource:Mega
Brave Lily-Mae has already started taking steroids after undergoing three rounds of chemo, but her mum is fearful of the side-effects.
Kayleigh added: “The steroids have completely changed her.
“They make her moody, she’s not talking to anyone.
“She’s terrified of everyone because she thinks they will stick her with needles.
“If she gets a temperature I have to bring her straight to hospital.
“She has no immune system whatsoever. She could get a cold and it could knock her for six.
“But she is being very brave, she knows she will lose her hair but said ‘it’s OK, it will grow back’.
“This will be a journey we will take for the rest of our lives.
“Even when she’s finished chemo and has the all clear, it will be in the back of my mind what if it comes back?”
This story originally appeared in The Sun and is republished with permission
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