When Jasmine Martin spotted a small glow in her youngest child’s eye she knew something was wrong.
She took her daughter Sariyah to her pediatrician and was told there was nothing to worry about but Jasmine wouldn’t give up until she got a diagnosis, as per Good Morning America (GMA).
The mom of five posted a picture of her daughter on social media as the mark was getting bigger.
“That day, it was like a moon,” Jasmine told GMA.
Her post attracted hundreds of comments from people with some saying it could be cancerous.
Thankfully she had a friend who worked at a hospital so emailed a picture of her daughter’s eye to her and she showed it to a doctor.
It wasn’t long before Sariyah was being rushed to hospital where she was diagnosed with bilateral retinoblastoma, a rare form of cancer affecting only several hundred children each year.
Although not common for the disease to affect both eyes Sariyah had to have a spot in her left eye laser treated, which has since returned, but the tumor in her right eye, which caused the large glow, is shrinking.
In an Instagram post put up last week Jasmine said they had high hopes for a visit to the doctor but sadly her levels were too low for chemotherapy.
“This means we have to wait until next Monday to have her rechecked, chemo Tuesday and then hopefully leave Wednesday. I’m so disappointed and just want to go home. But this is part of it I guess, plans change and we just have to go with the flow,” the post read.
The day before Jasmine said they were rejoicing in the news that the testing on the spot that had returned in her left eye had come back negative.
“The photos of the tumor in her right eye today vs in the beginning gave me chills! We are still on the right track and just taking it one day at a time. But today I’m rejoicing in the good news!” she wrote.
Throughout it all her 17-month-old brave warrior remains “so happy” Jasmine told GMA: “Even when it (chemotherapy) makes her sick and she has a fever she’s still playing with her siblings.”
Jasmine hopes her story will encourage other moms to always follow their instincts if they believe something is wrong with their child.
Wishing sweet Sariyah all the best health and happiness for a speedy recovery through this tough time. Please share to pay tribute to this amazing toddler.
