'White glow' in eye led to toddler's rare cancer diagnosis

TODDLER was diagnosed with a rare form of eye cancer after his parents noticed an unusual white glow in his left eye.

- FIONA CALLINGHAM

This peculiar symptom was only visible in dim light or when taking photos with a flash.

Shane Stevenson, 35, and his partner, Lowri Gallagher, 30, from Ferndale, Rhondda, were at home when they noticed their one-year-old son, Kooper, had a white glow in his eye. Initially they didn’t think much of it, but as they kept seeing it, their concern grew.

Online advice suggested they take a photo of Kooper using the flash, which made the glow even more prominent.

Shane remembered: "I dismissed it at first and then noticed it myself a couple of days later - then kept seeing it.

"We googled it and came across some advice that said to take a photo with the flash on, and the white glow in his eye was obvious then."

Shane described the weekend as being "full of panic" as he continually searched online for guidance.

Following a doctor’s visit, Kooper was referred to the Royal Glamorgan Hospital, in Talbot Green, for an ultrasound, which revealed a lump in his eye.

"The doctor referred us to the local hospital a couple of days later," Shane said. "It was another scary time, not knowing what was wrong.