Mum’s heartbreak as funding for son’s life-changing brain tumour treatment is rejected
Devastated mother blasts health bosses as boxing champ Anthony Joshua gets behind her cause
A DEVASTATED mum has blasted health bosses who refused to fund an operation to treat her little boy’s brain tumour.
Kara Ingles said she couldn’t describe her heartbreak after NHS England says cash for potentially life-changing surgery for son Finley wouldn’t be made available.
The four-year-old has a rare brain tumour that causes him to suffer a daily battle with seizures, emotional problems, rage attacks and learning difficulties.
The "hypothalamic harmatoma" cannot be removed as it is too deep in the hypothalamus region of the brain and is totally entwined with brain matter.
His only hope for a normal life is to undergo Laser Ablation Surgery – a £200,000 procedure only performed in the USA.
With the huge price of Finley’s operation, Kara placed a funding request with NHS England, the executive body of the Department of Health that can grant funds for procedures not normally available on the NHS.
The request was declined.
RELATED STORIES
Kara, who lives with her son in Marton, Middlesbrough, said: “We’re absolutely devastated.
"I can’t put it into words.
“We thought they would help in some way, shape or form.
“They won’t even allow us to appeal – there’s no appeal process.
“I know a lot of it comes down to money.
“But I can’t describe how heartbreaking it is, as a parent, to hear they don’t value his life – they don’t think Finley is worth it.”
Kara has already had her fair share of heartache.
The mum lost her second daughter Brooke at just eight weeks old to the same rare heart condition that her first daughter Georgia, now 10, has been diagnosed with.
When Kara, 31, found out she was pregnant again, she was told she had more chance of winning the lottery than having another child with a heart defect.
We’re absolutely devastated. I can’t put it into words. We thought they would help in some way, shape or form
Heartbroken Kara after her request for funding was rejected
So when Finley was born on October 14, 2011, weighing a healthy 6lb 10oz, nothing could prepare Kara for the cruel twist of fate that was to come.
Finley developed and grew just like any toddler until April 2013 when, out of the blue, he had a seizure and was later diagnosed as having the extremely rare brain tumour.
Championed by the family's local paper the Evening Gazette, the rallying cry to raise the £200,000 needed for Finley’s operation has touched the hearts of Teessiders.
Boxing champion Anthony Joshua has recorded a personal video message in support.
The Get Finley To America fund now stands close to the quarter way mark at £46,141 thanks to the huge effort and generosity of fundraisers.
But now, without the hope of NHS help, and time a relentless factor, Kara and Finley have to rely on the public’s generosity more than ever.
“He is struggling. He is deteriorating,” said Kara, close to tears, “He’s been really poorly this week with his seizures. With any one of them, heaven forbid, the worst could happen.
“A panel of people who have never met Finley can just say no and affect the rest of his life.
“Just people in suits playing God with people’s lives.
“It’s hard to take, it really is.”