Parents who thought their baby had a lazy eye were shocked to discover it was actually a sign of a rare cancer – before the baby's left eye was removed.
Becky Flower, 34, gave birth to little Sol, 13 months, on March 9, 2023, and says he was the “easiest baby” as he never cried.
But shortly after Sol's birth, Becky and her partner, Damien Stephens, 43, a technician, noticed a problem with his vision as the shape of his left eye changed.
They took the toddler to Camborne Redruth Community Hospital in Cornwall and was referred to the specialist eye unit before being sent to the Royal Cornwall Hospital.
After an MRI scan, Sol was taken to Birmingham Women and Children's Hospital, where a biopsy revealed he had a primitive myxoid mesenchymal tumor behind his eye – a rare sarcoma that affects infants.
Sol underwent four rounds of chemotherapy and seven surgeries – including biopsies and two surgeries to remove the tumor – to remove his eye and the tumor.
The surgeon was only able to remove 95 percent of the tumor and Sol is about to start proton beam therapy: a form of radiotherapy that uses a beam of high-energy protons to target the tumor.
Becky, who cares for Sol full-time, from Illogan, Cornwall, said: “He has the nickname 'super Sol', he has completely destroyed it.”
“He was smiling the whole time, he was great the whole time.”
“We just thought maybe he had a lazy eye. We were so shocked when we found out it was cancer.”
“He has days where he can't be himself because the chemicals from the drugs have defeated him – he has bad days.”
Sol was born on March 9, 2023 weighing 3.4kg at the Royal Cornwall Hospital.
Becky said Sol was the “perfect baby” as he rarely cried but noticed his eyes were different.
She said, “His eyes didn't match.”
“We went to our community center for an aggravation and they also mentioned his eye.”
Becky and Damien took Sol to the hospital, where he underwent tests.
Becky said: “Sol was only five months old at the time and they did an MRI.”
“They referred us to Birmingham Women and Children's Hospital and sent the MRI there.”
In October 2023, Sol underwent a biopsy of his eye, which revealed that a tumor had begun to grow rapidly behind his eye and would press on his left eye, causing his eye to change shape.
She said: “At the time we still didn't know it was cancer, but because the tumor became so aggressive Sol had to have emergency surgery to remove it.”
“We stayed in Birmingham for a few nights and went home.”
“When we got home, we got the call that Sol had cancer.”
“It was an absolute shock, we went to all the specialists and had checks to keep an eye on his eye.”
“They thought it could be a cyst or a strawberry birthmark, but they never thought it could be cancer.”
After Sol was diagnosed, Becky said she went into “total shock”.
Becky and Damien noticed the tumor had grown back after his eye started to change shape and Sol needed chemotherapy at Bristol Children's Hospital.
Becky said: “Days later he started his first round of chemo.”
“He also had surgery to remove part of his testicle because the chemo will make him infertile.”
“He had four rounds of chemotherapy and then surgery in February 2024 to remove the tumor and his eye.”
Doctors were able to remove 95 percent of the tumor, but the remaining five percent were left behind due to its location.
Now chemotherapy doesn't kill the cancer, so Sol is about to start proton beam therapy.
Becky said: “This is the last roll of the dice, he will have therapy every day for six to seven weeks.”
“The chemo fails at all to kill or shrink the cancer and surgery to remove what is left is far too dangerous.”
Becky and Damien have also started a JustGiving page to support them as they were both unable to work to care for Sol full-time.
Becky said: “We have destroyed our wedding fund which we had saved £10,000 for.”
“The money we have generated over the years has also gone towards travel and other expenses.”
“We have not been able to work since his diagnosis because he requires 24-hour care due to his age.”
Family friend Tash wants to run 5km every day in September to raise money for Sol and has already raised over £4,000.
To donate, visit – https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/natasha-diment?utm_term=QbXvwPn83