Five-Year-Old Girl With Brain Tumour Warned For Missing School

The parents of a five-year-old girl with a rare brain tumour have hit back at her school – after it warned “unauthorised absences" would not be tolerated.

Cherie and Graham Gillon – mum and dad to brave Leah – dubbed the school “disgusting” and “deeply offensive” after it questioned their daughter’s health.

Leah – who is known as Lilly – was diagnosed with an incurable ependymoma brain tumour four years ago, and has undergone two major operations and pioneering proton radiation therapy in the United States to remove the growth.

Despite this, last year she attended 67 per cent of her classes at Warren Primary School in Kingstanding, Birmingham.

But, in a letter sent last week, headteacher Margaret Goodwin said the school would no longer be authorising her absences unless medical evidence is provided.

Mum-of-four Cherie, 28, from Kingstanding, said: “We could not believe what we were reading.

The school letter (News Team)

"We have been through enough as a family as it is. We have been told her tumour could return at any time and she has regular check-ups.

"If having cancer is not a good enough reason to be off school, then what is? I am appalled by the way they have treated us.

Dad Graham, 38, added: "I was disgusted.

"Lil needs time off for hospital appointments. Already in the last two weeks she has had three.”

A school spokesperson said the school “disputes the family’s version of events”.

"We have independent medical advice that clearly states Leah is considered tumour-free.

"As a school we are only doing the responsible thing by reminding the family of their obligations."

Lily has a rare ependymoma brain tumour (News Team)

However, Cherie hit back saying “people with ependymomas don’t go into remission”.

"It’s incurable and the longest anyone has ever survived after having a tumour removed was 12 years. It’s a recurring tumour,” she said.