A mother's chance photograph has led to the diagnosis of a rare and aggressive eye cancer in her eight-month-old daughter, after she spotted an unusual white glow in the baby's eye.
The Fateful Flash: A Bath-Time Picture
Bronte Richards, 32, from Llanhilleth in Wales, first noticed a strange white gleam in her daughter Raye's right eye while she was in her high chair, but initially dismissed it as a reflection from the kitchen lights. The crucial moment came several weeks later, in December 2024, when Raye was playing in the bath with her nine-year-old brother, Dawson.
"I took a picture of Raye and my son in the bath playing, and the flash accidentally went off," Bronte explained. "I looked at the picture, and her right eye was glowing white. Her other eye was red from the flash, and so was my son's." This phenomenon, known as leukocoria or 'white pupil', is a key warning sign for several serious eye conditions, including retinoblastoma.
The Road to Diagnosis: From Optician to Specialist
Despite initial reassurance from her GP, Bronte's instinct told her something was wrong. She took Raye to a local optician, who referred her to an emergency eye clinic. After an examination at the Royal Gwent Hospital on January 2, 2025, suggested a stretched retina, a subsequent in-depth check revealed the shocking truth.
"He did an in-depth examination and said, 'I'm so sorry, Raye has retinoblastoma, her tumours look aggressive'," Bronte recalled. "I remember just falling to the floor, holding my baby. Our whole world had been turned upside down."
Raye was swiftly transferred to Birmingham Women's and Children's Hospital, where specialists confirmed she had bilateral retinoblastoma, meaning tumours were present in both eyes.
Treatment and Hope: Chemotherapy and Laser Therapy
Raye's treatment plan involved six months of intensive chemotherapy, administered via a Hickman line, which concluded in June 2025. She also began monthly laser therapy to control the tumours, which cannot be surgically removed.
"Raye is doing amazing now. She responded so well to chemotherapy," said Bronte. "She has little to no activity in her tumours, but they are being treated with laser therapy. She is navigating life with just one working eye, and you can tell because she is reaching all her milestones."
Raye will be closely monitored by specialists until she is five years old and will remain under the care of a retinoblastoma team until she turns 16.
A Vital Message for Parents and Professionals
Richard Ashton, Chief Executive of the Childhood Eye Cancer Trust (CHECT), emphasised the importance of awareness. "Raye's story shows the importance of retinoblastoma awareness among health professionals," he stated. The charity urges anyone concerned about a possible white glow in a child's eye to seek immediate advice from a GP or optician and to contact their support team.
Bronte's vigilance and a simple camera flash have given her daughter a fighting chance, underscoring a critical message for all parents about this rare but treatable childhood cancer.
