George fights back after tumour

WHEN you see toddler George Taylor running around it's hard to believe that just over a year ago he had a tumour the size of an apple removed from his brain.

The brave three-year-old is a bundle of energy and seems to be well on the way to recovery - chatting with friends and chasing around with a huge smile on his face.

But for his parents Louisa and Michael, who live in Playford Road, Ipswich, the last 12 months have been a bit of a rollercoaster.

The frightening string of events started in May last year when George, who was two at the time, had a fit in the back of the car.

He was rushed to Colchester General Hospital and later transferred to Ipswich, where doctors discovered the benign tumour.

The courageous youngster was then moved to Addenbrookes in Cambridge for a seven-hour operation during which neurosurgeons removed the growth.

Mrs Taylor, 28, said: “He had a fit in the back of the car. We were driving to a family barbecue and I just turned around and saw his head was shaking. I thought he was having a stroke.

“We were devastated - we just couldn't believe it. He was completely happy and there was nothing to suggest he was growing any differently to our two daughters. We didn't know anything was wrong at all.”

During George's six weeks at Addenbrookes, Mr and Mrs Taylor, who have been married since 2002, were able to stay at nearby Acorn House, which is run by the Sick Children's Trust charity.

Mrs Taylor said: “Without Acorn House we would have had to have kept coming home every night and we would have forever been travelling backwards and forwards.

“We were so grateful for the support that we received that when we got back I contacted the school to ask if they would consider raising money for the Sick Children's Trust.”

Broke Hall headteacher Richard Griffiths was only too happy to help out and organised a non-uniform day, which raised nearly £1,000.

“It's nice to be able to support a charity that has some connection with our children,” he said. “George's sisters are both pupils here and George also attends our Heathlands nursery. It gives the cause a sense of reality as far as the children are concerned because it is about someone they know.”