Tumour op gives Owen chance of normal life

Published on Monday 17 August 2009 09:43

A TEENAGER who once suffered up to 30 seizures a day has had his life transformed after a pioneering operation.

Owen Robertson, 15, who was kept off school for years because of his medical condition, is finally embarking on a normal life as a teenager.

After a five-year battle with a brain tumour, which began when he had an unexplained seizure at the age of ten, surgeons at London's Great Ormond Street Hospital cracked the problem in May, in a procedure that's only carried out five times a year.

Since then, he's not experienced a single seizure – a drastic improvement in his, and his family's, quality of life – and is ready to return to school to work towards his Highers.

As a thank you, the Broomhall boy has raised 600 for the hospital and intends to present it at his next check-up.

His mother, Lesley, 44, a WeightWatchers leader, said the agony and tough decisions they had taken as a family over the years had made them stronger. "I remember we were driving to school when he was ten, and his face screwed up and his eyes were rolling back in his head – I was absolutely terrified," she said.

"I went straight to the GP and then to the Sick Kids, but before his appointment there he'd had another one, so we had to rush him in."

Years of trying various combinations of medication then began – none of it working. Owen was missing large chunks of education at Forrester High School, losing social time and battling the daily scourge of epilepsy.

But a breakthrough came when surgeons from Great Ormond Street carried out extensive tests on his brain, and offered the family the chance to remove the tumour.

"It was a huge decision for us, and it had to be Owen's choice ultimately," added Mrs Robertson. "I remember watching a programme years ago about someone receiving surgery for epilepsy and wishing we had that chance for Owen. Well, that was it, and we'd come so far we felt it was the right move."

There were risks involved. The tumour – although not dangerous in itself – was near crucial parts of the brain controlling speech and movement. Even if it was successfully removed, it could have badly affected talking and movement down one side.

But Mrs Robertson, husband Alan, 46, a self-employed joiner, and brother Darren, 20, who works in Next, were willing to take the gamble.

"

It was only when we went into recovery to see Owen that we knew it had worked," she added. "I asked him if he was all right, and he replied 'Uh huh', so we knew his speech was okay.

"He's been terrific throughout, completely taken it in his stride and been so strong."

Not only has Owen – who will continue to take medication until he gets clearance from the hospital – come through the ordeal perfectly healthy, but it has inspired him to follow a career in neurophysiology.

He said: "I want to get back to school, catch up, then get my Highers and go on to university. I owe the hospital a lot, which is why I want to give this cheque to them.

"There's a 70 per cent chance I'll never have another seizure, which is great.

"I've become really interested in physiology as this has gone on."

Mrs Robertson added: "We've had such wonderful support from friends and family all through this, and we are so thankful for that."