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The Irish Sun
3 days ago
- Health
- The Irish Sun
‘Perfectly healthy' girl, 4, left paralysed after family camping trip due to giant critter feasting on her scalp
TAYLOR Justice was 'terrified' when her 'healthy' daughter Madeline Tuckwiller woke up paralysed after a camping trip - all because of a tick. "She couldn't walk and she was crawling on the floor," the 31-year-old mum said. 6 Madeline Tuckwiller, 4, with her mum Taylor Justice Credit: Kennedy News 6 The giant tick found feating on Madeline's scalp Credit: Kennedy News 6 Madeline woke up from her family camping trip paralysed Credit: Kennedy News Taylor, from West Virginia, US had taken her four kids on a short camping trip on Sunday May 11 to mark Mother's Day. Five days later, Taylor noticed something was seriously wrong with her four-year-old daughter. Madeline was struggling to move and appeared Taylor rushed her to hospital where medics began running a series of tests and scans but they couldn't figure out what was causing the Read more on lyme disease She was then transferred to a specialist children's hospital three hours away, where her condition seemed to be getting worse. 'The paralysis affected her whole body,' Taylor said. 'It started from the bottom and was working its way up. She couldn't sit up and wasn't even making eye contact.' Doctors monitored Madeline closely overnight. By the next morning, she had lost function in her hands. Most read in Health It was only when a neurologist asked about the family's outdoor activities that he decided to examine her scalp. They found a dime-sized female Rocky Mountain wood Justin Bieber discusses his battle with Lyme disease and how it has affected him It had been releasing a neurotoxin into Madeline's bloodstream, triggering a rare condition called The tick was carefully removed, and within hours, Madeline's mobility began to return. 'She was able to walk again about four hours later,' Taylor said. 'It was such a relief.' Ticks can hide anywhere and the earlier you catch it, the bette Taylor Justice 31 The youngster was also given antibiotics to lower the risk of Lyme disease, which ticks can carry and which can cause long-term complications if not treated early. Taylor, a salon owner, said she had never heard of tick paralysis before. 'It's frightening how something so small can do that kind of damage,' she said. 'I'll be so much more careful now.' 6 Madeline was struggling to move and appeared dazed, unable to get herself off the ground Credit: Kennedy News 6 The fateful family camping trip Credit: Kennedy News Madeline has started to recover but still wakes up with some stiffness in her legs in the mornings. Thankfully, she's regained full movement during the day and is back to her usual self. How to prevent tick bites - and remove the bugs There are a few things you can do to lessen your likelihood of tick bites. Firstly, try and cover as much of your skin as possible while walking outdoors and tuck your trousers into your socks. You should also be using insect repellent containing DEET on your clothes and skin, and wearing light coloured clothing so you can spot a tick easily. Also stick to paths where possible when you're out walking. How can I remove a tick safely? To remove a tick safely: Use fine-tipped tweezers or a tick-removal tool. You can buy these from some pharmacies, vets and pet shops. Grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible. Slowly pull upwards, taking care not to squeeze or crush the tick. Dispose of it when you have removed it. Clean the bite with antiseptic or soap and water. The chance of getting ill is low. You do not need to do anything else unless you notice a rash or become unwell. If either of these happen, make sure to see a GP so you can get treatment as soon a possible. Taylor says the experience has changed the way she thinks about outdoor safety. She now checks all her children thoroughly after time outside and keeps tick repellent in her bag at all times. 'Parents need to know about this,' she said. 'Check their heads, their hairlines, behind their ears, waistbands, even their socks. "Ticks can hide anywhere and the earlier you catch it, the better.' 6 Taylor says the experience has changed the way she thinks about outdoor safety Credit: Not known, clear with picture desk
The Irish Sun
3 days ago
- Health
- The Irish Sun
My Taliyah's vomiting was fobbed off as a ‘strawberry allergy' but now I'm fighting to keep her alive
SOPHIE Whitworth took her daughter Taliyah to the GP when the five-year-old began vomiting twice a week after eating strawberries. "I just listened to the doctors and thought, 'it's probably strawberries then' but in my gut I knew something wasn't right," said the 33-year-old from Yorkshire, said. 6 Taliyah Whitworth's vomiting was blamed on her strawberry addiction (Pictured: Taliyah) Credit: Kennedy News 6 The vomiting was a warning sign of a massive brain tumour (Pictured: Taliyah) Credit: Kennedy News Six months later, Taliyah was diagnosed with a brain tumour which Sophie says has since 'completely changed her character' and 'destroyed her brain'. The mum-of-two claims doctors repeatedly "fobbed off" her concerns, brushing them aside as a possible strawberry This was until she demanded a scan in 2018, when Taliyah collapsed at school. The fruit-loving tot had been scoffing a punnet of strawberries each night, so Sophie initially assumed she'd eaten too many and cut them out of her diet. Read more on brain tumour But despite the change, the Taliyah also started complaining of painful Sophie says she took her daughter to the GP numerous times over six months, only to be told it was probably a "virus" and to give her Calpol. 'When it got really bad, I took her to hospital,' said Sophie. Most read in Health She addded: 'They made her walk in a straight line, she was wobbling and cross-eyed but they still insisted nothing was wrong. "One day the school rang and said she'd fallen asleep and wasn't waking up properly. Brain Tumour facts: 10 things you should know about brain tumours "That's when I rushed her to hospital and demanded a scan." Security were called when Sophie refused to leave. Eventually doctors agreed to do tests and found a 'I knew they were going to find something,' she said. "I just flooded into tears because it was a shock. I couldn't console myself for a good minute. "I saw the scan and [the tumour] was massive." Taliyah was blue-lighted to another hospital where she had surgery to insert a shunt, followed by a gruelling 14-hour operation to remove the tumour. 6 Taliyah's mum says the cancer has 'completely changed' her daughter's personality (Pictured: Taliyah) Credit: Kennedy News 6 The family have received heartbreaking news that the cancer had returned and is no longer treatable (Pictured: Taliyah with her mum, Sophie) Credit: Kennedy News 6 Now 12, Taliyah went through 30 rounds of radiotherapy and nine months of chemotherapy in 2018 (Pictured: Taliyah) Credit: Kennedy News "After the operation is] when I always say I lost my little girl as she did not come out the same," Sophie said "I was dealing with grief. She came out and couldn't walk, talk or eat. She was a different character and it really destroyed her brain," she added. Taliyah, now 12, went through 30 rounds of radiotherapy and nine months of chemotherapy in 2018. For years, the family hoped she was in the clear until earlier this month [May 3 2025], Sophie received heartbreaking news that the cancer had returned and was no longer treatable. What is medulloblastoma? Medulloblastoma is the second most common type of brain tumour in children. It develops at the back of the brain in the cerebellum and is fast-spreading. Around 52 children are diagnosed with medulloblastoma every year in the UK. Adults can also get it, but this is rare. Symptoms often develop over several months and may not be noticeable until the cancer has spread. These include: Headaches (particularly in the morning) Feeling or being sick Double vision Finding it hard to sit or stand unsupported (children might fall backwards) Problems walking Stumbling, falling and general clumsiness Being irritable (kids might take longer than usual to settle) Appetite loss Behaviour changes (children might interact with their siblings less) Increased head size A swollen or soft spot on the top of the skull On average, around 85 per cent of children diagnosed with medulloblastoma survive for at least five years. Source: 'She has cerebral palsy and bell's palsy and she's got kidney problems and hearing problems,' said Sophie. 'She didn't eat for three years. The mum said she first thought something was "brewing again" when her daughter's mood got worse and she started suffering from fatigue and neck pain. Doctors confirmed the tumour had returned and spread and could not be operated on. You know your own child so if you think there's something not right, you need to push that. Listen to your gut instinct Sophie Whitworth 33 They offered low-dose chemotherapy to prolong her life, but not cure the disease. Sophie is now refusing further hospital treatment and is raising £200,000 to fund at-home care and alternative therapies including a £10,000 'I don't want to put her through chemo again. I've done so much research and I believe there are holistic ways that can help,' she said. 'She's struggling as it is. I want to keep her home, where she's comfortable. I'm a mother crying out for help. This is my last resort.' 6 The mum is urging other parents to 'trust their gut' when it comes to their children (Pictured: Taliyah with her younger brother) Credit: Kennedy News Now Sophie is urging other parents to push for answers if they feel something is wrong. "Definitely push and demand and don't ever take no for an answer. You have a right to push it forward," she said. "You know your own child so if you think there's something not right, you need to push that. Listen to your gut instinct."
Scottish Sun
3 days ago
- Health
- Scottish Sun
‘Perfectly healthy' girl, 4, left paralysed after family camping trip after giant critter feasted on her scalp
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) TAYLOR Justice was 'terrified' when her 'healthy' daughter Madeline Tuckwiller woke up paralysed after a camping trip - all because of a tick. "She couldn't walk and she was crawling on the floor," the 31-year-old mum said. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 6 Madeline Tuckwiller, 4, with her mum Taylor Justice Credit: Kennedy News 6 The giant tick found feating on Madeline's scalp Credit: Kennedy News 6 Madeline woke up from her family camping trip paralysed Credit: Kennedy News Taylor, from West Virginia, US had taken her four kids on a short camping trip on Sunday May 11 to mark Mother's Day. Five days later, Taylor noticed something was seriously wrong with her four-year-old daughter. Madeline was struggling to move and appeared dazed, unable to get herself off the ground. Taylor rushed her to hospital where medics began running a series of tests and scans but they couldn't figure out what was causing the paralysis. She was then transferred to a specialist children's hospital three hours away, where her condition seemed to be getting worse. 'The paralysis affected her whole body,' Taylor said. 'It started from the bottom and was working its way up. She couldn't sit up and wasn't even making eye contact.' Doctors monitored Madeline closely overnight. By the next morning, she had lost function in her hands. It was only when a neurologist asked about the family's outdoor activities that he decided to examine her scalp. They found a dime-sized female Rocky Mountain wood tick hidden in her hair, latched onto her skin and feeding. Justin Bieber discusses his battle with Lyme disease and how it has affected him It had been releasing a neurotoxin into Madeline's bloodstream, triggering a rare condition called tick paralysis. The tick was carefully removed, and within hours, Madeline's mobility began to return. 'She was able to walk again about four hours later,' Taylor said. 'It was such a relief.' Ticks can hide anywhere and the earlier you catch it, the bette Taylor Justice The youngster was also given antibiotics to lower the risk of Lyme disease, which ticks can carry and which can cause long-term complications if not treated early. Taylor, a salon owner, said she had never heard of tick paralysis before. 'It's frightening how something so small can do that kind of damage,' she said. 'I'll be so much more careful now.' 6 Madeline was struggling to move and appeared dazed, unable to get herself off the ground Credit: Kennedy News 6 The fateful family camping trip Credit: Kennedy News Madeline has started to recover but still wakes up with some stiffness in her legs in the mornings. Thankfully, she's regained full movement during the day and is back to her usual self. How to prevent tick bites - and remove the bugs There are a few things you can do to lessen your likelihood of tick bites. Firstly, try and cover as much of your skin as possible while walking outdoors and tuck your trousers into your socks. You should also be using insect repellent containing DEET on your clothes and skin, and wearing light coloured clothing so you can spot a tick easily. Also stick to paths where possible when you're out walking. How can I remove a tick safely? To remove a tick safely: Use fine-tipped tweezers or a tick-removal tool. You can buy these from some pharmacies, vets and pet shops. Grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible. Slowly pull upwards, taking care not to squeeze or crush the tick. Dispose of it when you have removed it. Clean the bite with antiseptic or soap and water. The chance of getting ill is low. You do not need to do anything else unless you notice a rash or become unwell. If either of these happen, make sure to see a GP so you can get treatment as soon a possible. Taylor says the experience has changed the way she thinks about outdoor safety. She now checks all her children thoroughly after time outside and keeps tick repellent in her bag at all times. 'Parents need to know about this,' she said. 'Check their heads, their hairlines, behind their ears, waistbands, even their socks. "Ticks can hide anywhere and the earlier you catch it, the better.'
Scottish Sun
3 days ago
- Health
- Scottish Sun
My Taliyah's vomiting was fobbed off as a ‘strawberry allergy' but now I'm fighting to keep her alive
SOPHIE Whitworth took her daughter Taliyah to the GP when the five-year-old began vomiting twice a week after eating strawberries. "I just listened to the doctors and thought, 'it's probably strawberries then' but in my gut I knew something wasn't right," said the 33-year-old from Yorkshire, said. 6 Taliyah Whitworth's vomiting was blamed on her strawberry addiction (Pictured: Taliyah) Credit: Kennedy News 6 The vomiting was a warning sign of a massive brain tumour (Pictured: Taliyah) Credit: Kennedy News Six months later, Taliyah was diagnosed with a brain tumour which Sophie says has since 'completely changed her character' and 'destroyed her brain'. The mum-of-two claims doctors repeatedly "fobbed off" her concerns, brushing them aside as a possible strawberry allergy. This was until she demanded a scan in 2018, when Taliyah collapsed at school. The fruit-loving tot had been scoffing a punnet of strawberries each night, so Sophie initially assumed she'd eaten too many and cut them out of her diet. But despite the change, the vomiting continued. Taliyah also started complaining of painful headaches, became moody, and had trouble with her balance. Sophie says she took her daughter to the GP numerous times over six months, only to be told it was probably a "virus" and to give her Calpol. 'When it got really bad, I took her to hospital,' said Sophie. She addded: 'They made her walk in a straight line, she was wobbling and cross-eyed but they still insisted nothing was wrong. "One day the school rang and said she'd fallen asleep and wasn't waking up properly. Brain Tumour facts: 10 things you should know about brain tumours "That's when I rushed her to hospital and demanded a scan." Security were called when Sophie refused to leave. Eventually doctors agreed to do tests and found a medulloblastoma the size of a tennis ball in the back of Taliyah's head. 'I knew they were going to find something,' she said. "I just flooded into tears because it was a shock. I couldn't console myself for a good minute. "I saw the scan and [the tumour] was massive." Taliyah was blue-lighted to another hospital where she had surgery to insert a shunt, followed by a gruelling 14-hour operation to remove the tumour. 6 Taliyah's mum says the cancer has 'completely changed' her daughter's personality (Pictured: Taliyah) Credit: Kennedy News 6 The family have received heartbreaking news that the cancer had returned and is no longer treatable (Pictured: Taliyah with her mum, Sophie) Credit: Kennedy News 6 Now 12, Taliyah went through 30 rounds of radiotherapy and nine months of chemotherapy in 2018 (Pictured: Taliyah) Credit: Kennedy News "After the operation is] when I always say I lost my little girl as she did not come out the same," Sophie said "I was dealing with grief. She came out and couldn't walk, talk or eat. She was a different character and it really destroyed her brain," she added. Taliyah, now 12, went through 30 rounds of radiotherapy and nine months of chemotherapy in 2018. For years, the family hoped she was in the clear until earlier this month [May 3 2025], Sophie received heartbreaking news that the cancer had returned and was no longer treatable. What is medulloblastoma? Medulloblastoma is the second most common type of brain tumour in children. It develops at the back of the brain in the cerebellum and is fast-spreading. Around 52 children are diagnosed with medulloblastoma every year in the UK. Adults can also get it, but this is rare. Symptoms often develop over several months and may not be noticeable until the cancer has spread. These include: Headaches (particularly in the morning) Feeling or being sick Double vision Finding it hard to sit or stand unsupported (children might fall backwards) Problems walking Stumbling, falling and general clumsiness Being irritable (kids might take longer than usual to settle) Appetite loss Behaviour changes (children might interact with their siblings less) Increased head size A swollen or soft spot on the top of the skull On average, around 85 per cent of children diagnosed with medulloblastoma survive for at least five years. Source: Cancer Research UK and Brain Tumour Research 'She has cerebral palsy and bell's palsy and she's got kidney problems and hearing problems,' said Sophie. 'She didn't eat for three years. The mum said she first thought something was "brewing again" when her daughter's mood got worse and she started suffering from fatigue and neck pain. Doctors confirmed the tumour had returned and spread and could not be operated on. You know your own child so if you think there's something not right, you need to push that. Listen to your gut instinct Sophie Whitworth They offered low-dose chemotherapy to prolong her life, but not cure the disease. Sophie is now refusing further hospital treatment and is raising £200,000 to fund at-home care and alternative therapies including a £10,000 oxygen chamber. 'I don't want to put her through chemo again. I've done so much research and I believe there are holistic ways that can help,' she said. 'She's struggling as it is. I want to keep her home, where she's comfortable. I'm a mother crying out for help. This is my last resort.' 6 The mum is urging other parents to 'trust their gut' when it comes to their children (Pictured: Taliyah with her younger brother) Credit: Kennedy News Now Sophie is urging other parents to push for answers if they feel something is wrong. "Definitely push and demand and don't ever take no for an answer. You have a right to push it forward," she said. "You know your own child so if you think there's something not right, you need to push that. Listen to your gut instinct."
Western Telegraph
4 days ago
- Health
- Western Telegraph
Furious Ryanair customer abandons holiday over £55 charge
(Image: Kennedy News/@hina_st) Hina said she refused to pay the 'ridiculous' fee - which cost almost as much as her £67 plane ticket to Lithuania. The pharmacist, who was celebrating passing her prescription course, said she went to eat at a Nepalese restaurant instead, as she felt it was a better way to spend money. Hina claims that the charge does not correspond to the service provided, which consists of the staff member entering her passport details into the system. Hina, from Slough, Berkshire, said: "It was my first trip in eight months, I just finished my prescribing course and I was going to treat myself, I thought why not. "They sent me an email to check in but it went to my junk and I genuinely forgot to check in. "There was a sign on the website saying you can check in up to 40 minutes before so I thought that's fine. "About an hour before I made it to the desk and I asked if I could check in and she said yes but it will cost £55. "I'd rather not, I can have a health assessment for £55 from someone with a degree, not for someone to put my passport details in. "I decided not to go but there was nowhere immediately saying on the website that this is the amount that they'd charged. "Part of abandoning the trip was just my annoyance, what they were charging was really unfair for the job that they had to do. "It was almost as expensive as my actual flight there. Everything I had booked was refundable anyways so in this situation I'd rather not. "I went up to her and said 'are you serious, £55?' I said I'm not going to pay that, and she said 'okay, fine.' "I know what you're doing, checking my passport, putting in my passport number and a few details and that is it. The charge in relation to what you're doing is ridiculous. "I thought it was free but people have said on my post that Ryanair had been doing this for three or four years, but I had no idea. "I went to a Nepalese restaurant an hour away from Stansted. I thought I won't think about the fight, I'll go and have some momos [steamed dumplings]. "My money is better spent getting food than paying £55 to check in." The TikTok creator said that while Ryanair has cheap fares, it is not worth the 'inflexible' customer service and disregard for their passengers. Hina vows that she will not be travelling with Ryanair again and would rather spend more money for a more reliable airline. Hina said: "If you go to any other airlines they'll make every effort to make sure you're on the plane, but with Ryanair I don't think they care. "People jump on the bandwagon of getting cheap flights and don't realise there's all these hidden charges. "There's also the inflexibility of customer service that makes me think I'm not getting my money's worth. "It was the right decision, I'd rather do that than take a flight with them, which I won't be doing in future." A Ryanair spokesman said: "In accordance with Ryanair's T&Cs, which this passenger agreed to at the time of booking, this passenger failed to check-in online before arriving at London Stansted Airport (13 May). "Therefore, this passenger was correctly asked to pay the standard airport check-in fee when checking in at the airport. "All passengers travelling with Ryanair agree to check-in online before arriving at their departure airport and all passengers are sent an email reminding them to do so 24hrs before departure. "This passenger chose not to pay the airport check-in fee and board her flight from London Stansted to Kaunas (13 May)."
