A mother has expressed heartfelt thanks to medical professionals who saved her four-year-old daughter's life and helped her regain movement and speech after a severe brain tumour diagnosis.
Jessica Macrae, from Bearsden in East Dunbartonshire, underwent life-saving surgery at the Royal Hospital for Children (RHC) in Glasgow last year after a tumour was discovered at the back of her brain. The procedure was followed by an intensive 12-week neuro rehabilitation programme that enabled Jessica, who had been unable to speak, eat, or move, to joyfully reconnect with her family and daily life.
Her parents, Jude Pender, 40, and Andrew Macrae, 43, first noticed concerning changes in Jessica's health during the summer. Ms Pender explained: "What began as headaches and morning sickness gradually evolved into problems with balance and coordination. It was very gradual, but many things felt off. Her colouring went from age-appropriate to very messy, she quit gymnastics because it made her dizzy, and I observed her walk had altered."
After an initial visit to Accident and Emergency in August and multiple GP appointments, Jessica's parents returned to the RHC in October as her symptoms worsened. A CT scan tragically revealed a mass at the back of her brain along with a worrying fluid buildup.
"When the neurosurgeon spoke to us, we knew it was serious. We were told Jessica needed surgery immediately," Ms Pender said.
Jessica underwent surgery on October 17 and, after a brief stay in intensive care, was moved to a ward. Her recovery was initially very difficult, with minimal movement or responsiveness and severe sickness, leading medics to insert a shunt to drain excess fluid. Although Jessica stabilised, she could not move or speak and required a feeding tube, needing full assistance from two staff members for any movement.
Ms Pender continued: "The neurosurgeons did an excellent job saving Jessica's life, and we are immensely grateful. We knew recovery would require a team effort, but we were never certain of the outcome."
She credited the intensive neuro-rehabilitation provided by the RHC physiotherapy team for Jessica's progress. Jessica remained in hospital for 13 weeks, receiving daily physiotherapy at her bedside, in the sensory room, gym, and hydrotherapy pool.
"At first, her rehabilitation was like fast-tracking a baby's development—learning to hold her head up, sit, crawl, eat, and walk again," Ms Pender said. "Her main physio, Fiona Norval, tailored each session to what Jessica enjoyed. They played games, set up obstacle courses, and made everything fun. Jessica looked forward to physio, and that made a huge difference."
Jessica was discharged in January and continues to recover. Her speech has returned, she eats independently, her motor skills have significantly improved, and she walks with greater stability and confidence. She is now looking forward to celebrating her fifth birthday in April with a trip to a farm park with her cousins—something her parents feared might not be possible six months earlier.
"Jessica is such a happy little girl with incredible resilience and determination," Ms Pender added. "She knows she was unwell, but I don't think she realises how far she's come. We are so grateful to the teams who cared for her."
Fiona Norval, a paediatric physiotherapist with NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, said Jessica's determination throughout recovery was "incredible to see." She added: "Her rehabilitation was intensive and challenging, but she approached every session with curiosity and enthusiasm. Our goal in paediatric physiotherapy is to make therapy engaging and meaningful for the child, and Jessica's progress is a testament to her hard work, her family's support, and the dedication of the wider multidisciplinary team."
