Toddler's devastating diagnosis after parents thought he just had a 'stomach bug'

A toddler whose parents believed he was suffering from a 'stomach bug' was later diagnosed with an incurable brain tumour the size of a tennis ball.

Lucas Garcia-Batalla received the devastating diagnosis of a grade 3 anaplastic ependymoma - a rapidly growing malignant tumour - just ten days after his first birthday. The infant had shown flu-like symptoms and his diagnosis came as a "shock" to his parents David Garcia Jurado, 42, and Laura Batalla, 38.

Following his diagnosis, Lucas underwent three major brain surgeries, endured 13 months of chemotherapy and two months of proton beam therapy. Sadly, none of the treatments have proven successful for Lucas and his father David believes he may have less than a year to live.

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Reflecting on when the symptoms began, David, a senior project manager from Stonehaven, Aberdeenshire, said: "Just before his first birthday Lucas was sick. He didn't have much appetite but we thought it was a stomach bug.

"He didn't stop vomiting, he was lethargic, and everything happened so quickly - it was not a slow progression."

But just a few days later, a CT scan revealed a massive tumour on the back of the toddler's head. Measuring 4cm by 4cm, David described it as 'like a tennis ball'.

"That was a very dark moment for me. I still have the picture in my mind of my wife holding Lucas and them telling us he had a brain tumour," he added.

Now six years old, Lucas celebrated his first birthday on April 1, 2019.

Upon discovering that Lucas had a grade 3 anaplastic ependymoma by way of a CT scan, he was transitioned to The Royal Hospital for Children and Young People, Edinburgh where the successful removal of his tumour was executed through a 10-hour procedure.

David said: "His first surgery was just two days after his diagnosis. They managed to remove everything, it was a successful surgery. Lucas then had chemotherapy for 13 months, after that an MRI was ok - he was clear."

Tragically, Lucas relapsed three months following the completion of his chemotherapy in September 2020.

Undergoing another operation, he was relocated to the Christie Hospital, in Manchester, where he experienced two months of proton beam therapy.

David remembered: "We had hope for a year and then in December 2021 he relapsed again. He had palliative surgery in March 2022 to remove the tumour, again, that was successful.

"After that in January 2023, he had experimental Gamma Knife surgery - a type of radiotherapy treatment. It's the first time something like that has been done to a four year old to stop/delay the growth for some time."

An MRI scan in June 2023 disclosed the continuing growth of the tumour. David said there are no additional treatment options available for Lucas and they aim to provide him with the best life achievable.

He said: "There are no more options for him, how many times can you open his head and have a surgery? In all of his journey, the most important thing is to keep him alive but the side effects are really rough."

He added that Lucas is now blind in his right eye and deaf in his left ear. "It is a miracle that he has been able to go to school," David continued. "He has a great sense of humour, it is unbelievable. You wouldn't believe what he has gone through."

David described the tumour as a "time bomb", indicating that Lucas might only have a year left to live. He emphasised the importance of "enjoying the moment" and providing Lucas with a "normal life".

David said: "It is very difficult to understand, at some point you learn to live with uncertainty. It is like having a ticking time bomb, but we want him to have the most normal life possible - it is all about him."

Catherine Fraher, director of services and digital health at The Brain Tumour Charity, expressed her gratitude to those who share their often heartbreaking stories to raise awareness of brain tumours.

"We know that every family deals with a brain tumour diagnosis and its aftermath in their own unique way."

"That's why The Brain Tumour Charity offers support to anyone who needs it. It's so important for them to know that they are not alone."