The parents of a six-year-old girl from Ipswich have praised Specsavers after a routine eye test led to the discovery of a brain tumour, ultimately saving her life. Tanisha Castello took her daughter Sofia for an eye test at Specsavers Warren Heath in July 2022 after she complained of headaches and sickness, which were initially attributed to hot weather.
During the test, the optician noticed an abnormality and urged Tanisha to take Sofia to Ipswich Hospital immediately. A CT scan revealed a large brain tumour that had been growing for approximately a year. Six days later, Sofia underwent a six-hour operation at Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge to remove the mass, which was successfully removed and confirmed to be non-cancerous.
Sofia has since made a remarkable recovery, returning to her usual bubbly and active self, enjoying gymnastics and dancing. Her father Gareth said: 'We owe everything to Specsavers Warren Heath, they were amazing. They picked up on the tumour straight away and knew something was wrong. They did save her life.'
Ayanna Cooper, optometrist director at Specsavers Warren Heath, emphasised the importance of regular eye tests, stating: 'It’s cases like Sofia’s that highlight the importance of having regular eye tests, regardless of whether you’ve noticed any unusual symptoms.' Sofia's parents expressed gratitude to the Specsavers team and medical staff at Ipswich and Addenbrooke's hospitals for their swift action and care.
