Illness takes no holiday
SUNNINGHILL - While many children were celebrating their first day of school, one four-year-old little girl was in hospital.
Layla O’Neill of Lonehill was admitted to Sunninghill Hospital undergoing an MRI scan due to complications with her illness.
She suffers from a rare illness called neauroplasm glial ependymoma which affects her central nervous system. (‘Raising hope for Layla’, Fourways Review, week ending 21 September 2013)
Belinda Lombard, a good friend of the O’Neill family said that Layla’s first course of radiation ended just before Christmas and she handled it very well. This convinced Layla’s mother, Sharyn that she was fit for a holiday and the family decided to go to Ballito on the north coast of Kwa-Zulu Natal.
While on holiday Layla began complaining of chest pains and ended up in an isolation ward at a hospital in Ballito with underlying pneumonia. Luckily she responded well to treatment and was able to finally come home last week.
However, once she was home Layla started to complain of severe spinal pain and she was admitted to Sunninghill Hospital.
“It is the most frustrating thing having to know that she is suffering and there is nothing that we can do to make it better,” Lombard said.
To find the source of the pain Layla underwent an MRI scan which revealed that one of her tumours had grown and was putting pressure on her spine because of a fluid build up.
Layla is now on morphine to combat the pain but is awaiting surgery to insert a spinal shunt that will release the fluid.
Raising Hope for Layla is still tirelessly working to raise funds for her treatment. Their next event is a bingo tournament at Lonehill Mugg and Bean on Saturday 25 January at 7pm. For more information contact Belinda Lombard.
Details: 083 239 5587, B.Lombard@vodamail.co.za
