Mum says picture taken at nursery saved her son's life

North Wales Live

09-07-2025

A grateful mum says a picture of her son having fun at nursery saved his life when the camera flash revealed a rare cancer lurking in his eye. Laura Davies said her husband Tom Davies, 39, first noticed a strange cloudiness in their two-year-old son Sidney's left eye in April.
The 39-year-old said at the time she searched online for information relating to cloudy eyes but all that came up was information about cataracts. But when Sidney's nursery took a picture of him as he enjoyed a day in the sensory room, the camera flash revealed his left eye was cloudy compared to his right.
After a visit to her GP and Specsavers, Sidney was eventually referred to Birmingham Children's Hospital and had an ultrasound. He was diagnosed with retinoblastoma on May 19 - a rare eye cancer that can affect young children.
Doctors decided the best course of action would be to remove the eye and Sidney underwent the operation on May 27. Laura said she 'burst out crying' when doctors told her Sidney had the all clear on June 11 and would not need any chemotherapy or radiotherapy.
Laura, from Mold, Flintshire, said: "His nursery saved his life by taking that photo. "He was basically sat in his high chair opposite the French doors in our kitchen and my husband was like, 'his eye doesn't look right.' It basically looked cloudy. It was literally just when he was looking to the left. I've got to be honest I probably wouldn't have noticed it.
"His nursery took a photo of him in the sensory room and that's when it showed it [Sidney's eye] white. It was almost like it was reflecting the light, it's really hard to describe. It was like his eye wasn't there, it was like a mirror.
"He [Sidney] coped with it so well and I think the boys gave me strength as well. It was so scary seeing him go for the operations. I think we went into mum and dad mode. You kind of just get through it. Afterwards when we found out that he was okay and he didn't need any chemotherapy then it all hit me if I'm honest. "I burst out crying [when he got the all clear]. It was such a relief."
Sidney currently has a temporary plastic shell called a conformer fitted in his eye socket but is undergoing another operation in July to have a prosthetic eye fitted. Laura said doctors also discovered Sidney's retina was detached, and they were not sure how long it had been since he had been able to see out of his left eye.
He will have to wear protective goggles when he plays sport, but other than that Laura hopes her son will be largely unaffected by the prosthetic. Laura said: "It was horrendous. We were so worried, we expected it but you know when you're actually hearing those words it's a different story. It was a lot to take in.
"I was obviously upset about the fact that he needed to have his eye removed. All the thoughts run through your head of how they are going to cope in school and kids are horrible and things like that. But I was also looking at it and thinking, 'I just want it out' because you could literally see it.
"In terms of the effects on him it's been quite minimal because he's already dealt with that himself, not being able to see out of that eye. I keep saying to people, 'I would never have known.'
"I've always said he's very careful. He will go down the steps very carefully unlike my other son who is older and who's like a bull at a gate. "You sort of think back and think, 'maybe that's why?' but he's a happy boy, he showed no signs of this. We didn't notice that he couldn't see out of his eye.
"It's funny because people have said when they see him on the school run and things that he's got a new lease of life. I don't know whether it was bothering him before, whether it was blurry. We'll never know really."
Laura's husband is taking part in a sponsored walk up and down Moel Famau, the highest hill in the Clwydian Range, 12 times in 12 hours with family and friends to raise money for Birmingham Children's hospital. The distance will be around 40 miles in total and Laura said she and their two children are planning to join him for the last summit.
Specsavers Broughton Park Ophthalmic director Kelly Gibson said: "We're incredibly grateful that Laura attended with her son, Sidney, to see us after being alerted by a concern from his nursery. It's reassuring to know that I was able to ensure he received the urgent care he needed. We're relieved that his condition was caught early, and he received treatment in a timely manner.
"Stories like this are a powerful reminder of how important it is to attend for an eye examination if you ever notice a change or feel that something isn't quite right with your eyes. It also highlights the importance of eye examinations for children, whether it is due to a concern or a routine review, we look after all ages. An eye examination can sometimes uncover signs of more serious health conditions, and acting early can make all the difference."
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The NHS describes retinoblastoma as a rare eye cancer that can affect young children and says it can be in one of both eyes and affects the back of the eye. The NHS says it can be treated successfully if it is found early and is often linked to a change in gene that controls the growth of the eye.