A mother devastated by the loss of her young daughter to cancer has spoken out about the heartbreaking ordeal. Kayleigh Reid recounted the tragic journey that began with the discovery of a lump on her child’s face.
The distressing incident unfolded as Kayleigh was bathing her daughter, Delilah-Rai Reid-Floyd, in January when she noticed a small lump. Alarmed, she wasted no time in scheduling a doctor’s appointment for the following day. Subsequently, a GP referred Delilah-Rai to Russells Hall Hospital in Dudley for further evaluation.
To Kayleigh’s dismay, within days of the referral, she and her partner were accused of causing harm to their child, a revelation she shared with BlackCountryLive. The concerned mother, who has five children ranging in age from 11 to four months, expressed her initial concerns about the lump possibly being cancerous or a cyst.
After a CT scan, doctors diagnosed Delilah-Rai, who had recently turned one, with a paranasal cystic lesion. Kayleigh, 27, was informed that her daughter would need to see an ear, nose, and throat (ENT) specialist and was promised a follow-up within a week. However, subsequent delays in the referral process allowed the mass on Delilah-Rai’s face to grow unchecked for several months.
Despite efforts to expedite the process, including sending photos of the growing mass, Delilah-Rai’s journey to a diagnosis and treatment was fraught with setbacks. Following a series of medical consultations and tests, it was determined that she had desmoid fibromatosis, initially thought to be a non-cancerous tumor. Plans for surgery to address the condition were abruptly changed when doctors identified soft tissue cancer, leading to a tragic outcome.
Kayleigh expressed profound disappointment with the delays and misdiagnoses, holding the NHS accountable for what she believes was inadequate care for her daughter. She highlighted the impact on her family and emphasized the need for greater awareness of the disease’s challenges.
Seeking justice for her daughter, Kayleigh mentioned taking legal action against the hospitals involved. Despite the heartbreaking loss, she aims to raise awareness about the disease while advocating for better healthcare practices to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
In response to the family’s ordeal, healthcare authorities expressed condolences and commitment to investigating the circumstances. The Birmingham Women’s and Children’s NHS Foundation Trust and The Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust pledged to address the concerns raised and support the grieving family during this difficult time.