BATTLE TO SAVE VIOLETT
FAMILY’S BABY TUMOUR HELL
SHE is only three months old but Violett Drinkwater-Sherman has already faced “death’s door”.
Doctors initially thought she was not going to survive emergency surgery to remove an egg-sized brain tumour that “squished” her brain.
Smiley and bubbly Violett, the first child of former Cairns couple Elizabeth Drinkwater and David Sherman, was rushed to Cairns Hospital on February 20 after the tumour began to bleed.
The young mum had her hens party in Cairns that night and had asked her mother, Josephine Drinkwater, to look after Violett, who had never shown any previous health issues.
Josephine is a nurse who had seen “the signs that there was something really wrong with her”. In hospital, a scan showed a tumour slightly bigger than an egg.
Violett was flown to Brisbane where she underwent emergency surgery to remove the tumour. Ms Drinkwater, 23, said it was “a mother’s worst nightmare”.
“I dropped to the ground when I found out,” she said. “It’s definitely the hardest thing I’ve had to go through.”
Ms Drinkwater said Violett’s tumour “squished all of the right side of her brain into the left side”.
“Doctors said if this happened to an adult or someone whose skull was formed, then they would’ve definitely died,” she said.
Violett was moved on Friday from the intensive care unit at Queensland Children’s Hospital to a ward, and was being fed through a tube.
Doctors have told the family that Violett will need to be in hospital for at least 3-6 months, and that the extent of any brain damage has not been determined.
“The doctors didn’t think she was going to survive the surgery at all, with how big the tumour was,” Ms Drinkwater said.
“She did have seizures and had trouble moving her left arm and left leg … but she’s doing really well now.
“We don’t know the extent of brain damage until she fully comes off the sedation.”
Ms Drinkwater thanked medical staff, saying they had all been amazing and friendly.
Mr Sherman, 30, described Violett as “our little fighter” who “amazes us every day”.
“From battling seizures to gaining movement back again,” he said.
“She has been at death’s door, and thanks to the amazing medical staff, she has turned around and come back to us.
“Still a lot of work to do, but her strength and the love and support from her family and friends will see her through.”
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