Fundraising plea from family to help buy special trike for their 'true fighter' River

BRAVE GIRL IS BATTLING BRAIN TUMOUR

- EMYLIE HOWIE

An East Renfrewshire mum was repeatedly told her baby daughter had a viral illness - only to later discover she had a brain tumour.

Little River Menzies-Staff, from Barrhead, was just 21 months old when she began vomiting every morning.

However, due to Covid-19 restrictions at the time, worried mum Katie was only able to speak with doctors over the phone.

Katie was reassured on several occasions that River was likely suffering no more than a viral illness.

But her world came crashing down on September 21, 2021, when her baby suddenly lost the ability to walk.

She was rushed to A&E and doctors soon diagnosed River with an ependymoma brain tumour.