Florence Wilde, a one-year-old from Stourbridge, underwent surgery to remove a 30cm tumour after doctors initially treated her for constipation. Her mother, Anna Chatterway, said the diagnosis came only after several medical visits, and the family is now fundraising for additional care.
Misdiagnosis and Delayed Detection
Anna, 32, first took Florence to their GP with stomach issues shortly after her first birthday. The doctor felt Florence's stomach and said it was backed-up faeces, prescribing laxatives. Anna told BlackCountryLive that the medication caused Florence to cry in pain each night.
After multiple visits to the GP and Russells Hall Hospital, doctors continued to diagnose constipation. It was only on the third hospital visit that a different consultant examined Florence and recognized a serious problem.
Diagnosis and Treatment
Florence was rushed to Birmingham Children's Hospital, where she was diagnosed with high-risk neuroblastoma. A CT scan on November 18, 2024, revealed the massive tumour. "Night times were horrendous because when she was lying down in the cot, the tumour was really hurting her," Anna said.
Since then, Florence has undergone eight cycles of chemotherapy, a 12-hour surgery to remove 90 per cent of the tumour, stem cell transplants, radiotherapy, and immunotherapy. She spent 297 days in hospital. Her 18-month treatment ended in April this year, but she still requires oxygen due to respiratory disease from chemotherapy.
Family's Response and Fundraising
Despite the ordeal, Anna said Florence remains resilient: "She just comes through smiling. Everything that's been put in front of her, she's just sailed through."
The family is now raising £100,000 for additional treatment to reduce relapse risk, with over £50,000 already raised. The Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust has apologized and pledged to review the case to improve future patient care.
