A mother from Abertillery has credited a photograph she took of her baby daughter with saving her life after it revealed a rare form of eye cancer. Bronte Richards took a picture of eight-month-old Raye Vowles playing in the bath last month, accidentally leaving the flash on.
Looking at the image, Richards noticed that while her son's pupils appeared red, Raye's right pupil showed a white glow. Concerned, she consulted Dr Google and learned it could indicate a tumour. Despite initial reassurances from her GP and a hospital visit, she persisted, and further examination at the Royal Gwent Hospital revealed three large tumours in Raye's right eye.
Raye was diagnosed with retinoblastoma, a rare cancer affecting the retina in young children. The white glow in flash photography is a key symptom. She is now undergoing chemotherapy at Birmingham Children's Hospital and Noah's Ark in Cardiff. Doctors say she is likely to lose vision in her right eye, but if chemotherapy fails, the eye may need to be removed.
MRI scans have confirmed the cancer has not spread beyond the eyes. Richards urged other parents to be vigilant, saying: "Had I not spotted it and pushed for her to be looked at properly, it would have been a different story." A fundraising page has been set up to support the family.
