A tragic misdiagnosis claimed the life of six-month-old Louie Moss, whose symptoms were initially mistaken for a “milk allergy” and “teething” before doctors discovered a brain tumour. Despite medical intervention, Louie succumbed to the aggressive condition in April 2022.
At four months old, Louie began missing developmental milestones and struggled to gain weight. Doctors attributed his symptoms to a dairy milk allergy related to breastfeeding and prescribed antibiotics and milk alternatives. However, his condition worsened.
A lumbar puncture at Peterborough City Hospital eventually revealed elevated white blood cell levels, and a CT scan uncovered a significant brain tumour. Louie underwent surgery at Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge, where surgeons drained fluid from his brain and removed over 80% of the tumour, told The Sun.
Tragically, the tumour regrew to its original size shortly afterwards. Louie spent his final days at East Anglia Children’s Hospice in Milton, Cambridgeshire. Louie’s father, Robert Moss, 34, is now channelling his grief into action by running the London Marathon to raise funds for Brain Tumour Research.
Reflecting on the devastating experience, Robert said: “Raising Louie was different from what I and my fiancée Molly had experienced with our eldest son, Eli. We expected Louie’s symptoms to settle, but they didn’t. We were in disbelief when we learned he had a brain tumour.”
Doctors initially misdiagnosed Louie’s symptoms as teething or a cold. Robert explained, “Our doctor even said that in his whole career, they’d never seen anything like it before.” Louie, born on October 18, 2021, frequently vomited and struggled to gain weight before his diagnosis.
The family faced an unimaginable decision when offered chemotherapy, knowing the tumour was terminal. “We felt putting a baby through chemo when the tumour was so relentless was a losing battle. It’s a decision you never expect to make as a parent,” Robert said.
Robert, a father of two other children aged eight and 10 months, has begun training for the marathon despite limited running experience. “It’s a proper way to honour Louie’s life. My reason for running is to give future patients every opportunity for a positive outcome,” he said.
Carol Robertson, national events manager for Brain Tumour Research, said, “Louie’s story is desperately sad. Brain tumours kill more children than leukaemia and are notoriously difficult to treat. We’re determined to improve treatment options and find a cure.” To support Robert’s London Marathon challenge and Brain Tumour Research, click here.