Noah Butterfield, aged four, lost his sight before being diagnosed with a rare brain tumour, and after 181 days in hospital and six months of treatment, he received the all-clear in July 2025, though his sight has not returned.
Noah's mother, Amy Dickenson, 32, from Bradford, who works in HR, said she administered first aid after Noah bumped his head on Boxing Day 2024, and he seemed "fine" afterwards. Within two days, Amy said Noah kept being sick and "wasn't himself", so she took him to hospital, where doctors believed he had a viral infection and advised her to keep an eye on him.
Multiple hospital visits before diagnosis
By January 14, 2025, Noah's father James, 29, a drainage engineer, needed to pick his son up from nursery early, with staff reporting he was "lying with his head in his hands". A second trip to the hospital that same day had doctors believing Noah had flu, before he was sent home. His condition worsened to lethargy, a constant headache and more vomiting on January 18, as Noah began to complain that he couldn't see.
Two days later, a CT scan revealed a brain tumour pressing on his optic nerve, and he was blue-lighted to Leeds Children's Hospital. After a biopsy, doctors confirmed Noah's non-Hodgkin lymphoma diagnosis on January 24, and he started emergency chemotherapy the same day.
Treatment and the all-clear
Amy said Noah had six months of "horrendous" cancer treatment, but he was told in July that he was in remission and he rang a bell to signify the end of treatment. James said: "Noah spent 181 days in a hospital bed, so for him to ring the bell, it was the best feeling."
Amy added: "I think I just cried. When his consultant came in and she said there's no sign of disease, you just wait to hear that. But I found it quite bittersweet too because I just thought: 'Well, that's good, but he's still blind'."
The parents believe Noah being an "excited toddler" and bumping his head on December 26, 2024, was a "blessing in disguise" because it forced them to seek medical advice earlier. On two separate visits to the same hospital A&E department – on December 28 and January 14 – Noah was misdiagnosed with a viral infection and flu, respectively. After twice being sent home, Amy said her son's condition started to deteriorate.
Sudden loss of sight
On Saturday, January 18, Amy brought out paints and a paintbrush for Noah to use and placed them directly in front of him. But she said Noah lifted up his glasses and said, "I can't see it – where is it?" That same night, Amy said Noah was "up pretty much every hour" from bed complaining of pain in the front of his head. They gave him cold compresses, Calpol and made sure he was drinking water, but Amy and James decided to take him to another hospital's A&E department on Sunday morning, where he was admitted.
Amy said: "He went to give the doctor a high five and he completely missed. Then he walked into a door. He'd gone into hospital feeling poorly, and within 24 hours, his sight was gone."
Diagnosis and treatment
Noah had a CT scan on Monday, January 20, which confirmed a brain tumour pressing on his optic nerves. The parents did not want to scare Noah, so they did not tell him about his diagnosis, instead telling him that he is "poorly" and that was the reason why he could no longer see. The family was transferred to Leeds Children's Hospital, and Noah had a biopsy on January 22 that confirmed two days later that Noah had non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
According to Cancer Research UK, it is a type of blood cancer that affects white blood cells and is more common among older people. Lymphomas of the brain are very rare, and symptoms can include headaches, difficulty thinking, mobility issues, changes in personality, changes to speech and seizures.
The same day the biopsy confirmed Noah's diagnosis, he started a round of emergency chemotherapy. Noah had six rounds of this treatment over as many months, and Amy said he experienced many side effects, including mucositis – causing ulcers throughout his mouth and throat – black lips, a "massive" rash, blisters all over his body, vomiting, hair loss, swelling and losing his ability to walk.
"It was just horrendous," Amy said. "You're just watching your little person completely deteriorate in front of your eyes and you can't do anything about it."
Recovery and support
By July 2025, scans revealed there was no cancer detected in Noah's body. James said Noah has taken "everything in his stride", including adjusting to now being registered blind by learning braille: "He's very clever and he's not let it stop him in the slightest."
The family has been supported by Cancer Research UK, including helping to organise a visit from Leeds United captain Ethan Ampadu, while in hospital, who James said "showered him" with gifts. Then, after Noah finished his treatment, he was invited to walk out during a Leeds United match as the club's mascot in October 2025.
Amy said: "From the sidelines, we saw Noah walking across this pitch in front of thousands of people, and we couldn't believe that a few months earlier, our little boy wouldn't even put his feet on the floor. It was incredible."
Life for Noah has carried on since he received the all-clear over a year ago, including going back to nursery and continuing to enjoy football. "He loves it," James said. "We take him to games now, and despite not being able to see what's going on, it's about the atmosphere for him. A lot of people say blind people don't like noise, but he's in the middle of it all."
Noah and his family are supporting Cancer Research UK this September for Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.
