Coleraine family backs brain injury charity

Kerrie MacKerracher’s 10-year-old son, Ewan, has twice undergone surgery to remove a brain tumour which was first diagnosed when he was just five years old.

The local family made headlines last year after they revealed that Ewan had been waiting almost two years for a scan.

The scan was to check for any recurrence of the ten-year-olds brain tumour.

The MacKerracher family will be at Stormont today with other families affected from Northern Ireland, at the launch of The Brain Tumour Charity’s manifesto for Northern Ireland ahead of Assembly elections in May.

After The Brain Tumour Charity drew attention to the case, Ewan finally had an MRI scan in December and thankfully he was given the all-clear.

Ewan’s mum, Kerrie said: “ Having had first-hand experience of brain tumour services in Northern Ireland through Ewan’s diagnosis and care.

“We fully support The Brain Tumour Charity’s manifesto.

“We had to fight for better after-care for Ewan and want to do whatever we can to make sure others don’t have to do the same.”

Gideon Burrows from Holywood is living with a low-grade brain tumour.

“One of the worst things about living with a brain tumour is not knowing what the future holds.

“The emotional impact, as well as the lack of knowledge about where you are going, can be paralysing when you’re thinking about the future.

“Should I apply for a new job? Should I move house? Will I be alive for the next dentist’s appointment?

“This is why I support the Brain Tumour Charity’s call for doctors and medical staff to provide written care pathways.

“No one should leave an initial brain tumour consultation without a leaflet from The Brain Tumour Charity in their hand and a number to call.”

Richard Devlin, The Brain Tumour Charity’s operations manager in Northern Ireland, said: “We hear far too many stories of patients whose tumours were initially misdiagnosed, or whose care was not as good as it could and should have been.

“The experiences of the patients and families who are backing our manifesto show how important it is that we work with healthcare professionals and policymakers to improve brain tumour services across Northern Ireland.”