Teen Cousins Face Life with Inoperable Brain Tumours

Two teenage cousins from Scotland, Lachlan Lindsay and Hazel Dempster, are navigating life with inoperable brain tumours, having faced unexpected diagnoses at a young age. Their experiences, marked by resilience and humor, shed light on the realities of living with such life-altering conditions.

Diagnoses and Their Impact

Lachlan was just eight years old when he was diagnosed with a brain tumour in 2017. Following swift surgical intervention, he managed to recover well, but the ordeal left a lasting impact on him and his family in Stonehaven. Six years later, in a twist of fate, his younger cousin Hazel, living in Kirkcudbright, began experiencing severe headaches. A visit to her general practitioner led to an MRI scan, which revealed a concerning growth in her brain.

As she prepared for her first MRI, Lachlan lightheartedly reassured her, joking, “Imagine if we both had a brain tumour.” Tragically, within days, Hazel, then 12, underwent emergency neurosurgery to alleviate pressure from a growth larger than a golf ball. “It was a massive shock because the likelihood of two cousins having brain tumours is so minuscule,” Hazel, now 16, reflected on the ordeal.

Despite the gravity of their situations, both Lachlan and Hazel have developed a unique bond through their shared experiences. Hazel remarked, “I think I’ve probably got a closer relationship with Lachlan now because it’s something me and him can relate to that practically nobody else in our life can.”

Living with Tumours

Today, both teenagers continue to live with their tumours, which cannot be surgically removed due to their locations in the brain. Hazel has been diagnosed with an optic chiasm pilocytic astrocytoma, a slow-growing tumour that affects her vision. Since her initial surgery, she has undergone six additional procedures and endured the challenges of chemotherapy, which brought a range of debilitating side effects.

Hazel described the sensation of prolonged nerve pain, likening it to “wearing big winter gloves every day,” making simple tasks like using zippers and buttons nearly impossible. She also faced a heightened risk of infections, limiting her participation in typical childhood activities. “I went to a trampoline birthday party in Carlisle and I just had to sit in the cafe because I wasn’t allowed to go on the trampolines,” she recalled.

Currently, Hazel’s treatment involves daily oral chemotherapy, allowing her to lead a relatively normal life filled with regular medical appointments. After years of staycations due to health concerns, her family successfully embarked on an ambitious rail trip across Europe last summer. Additionally, Hazel excelled in her National 5 exams and received recognition from the Chief Scout with an Unsung Hero award, highlighting her commitment to her local Scout troop.

On the other hand, Lachlan, now 19 and a first-year student at the University of Aberdeen, copes with a tectal plate glioma, a relatively rare benign tumour. His diagnosis followed the emergence of a slight squint and occasional headaches. “I remember being taken to hospital. I remember the first ever MRI I had. I remember being told that I had a tumour and the hydrocephalus could kill me if it wasn’t treated,” he said, reflecting on the fear surrounding his diagnosis.

After emergency surgery to address fluid buildup in his brain, Lachlan faced excruciating pain during recovery, a memory he describes as one of the lowest points in his life. He now lives with dyspraxia, a condition that affects his physical coordination, and he has noticed a slower processing speed during tests. “Sometimes I will take longer to understand a question in a test because the tumour holds me back,” he explained. Despite these challenges, Lachlan remains determined, pursuing studies in English and Film & Visual Culture with aspirations of becoming a Hollywood film director.

The emotional toll of their diagnoses extends beyond the cousins, impacting their family as well. Their aunt, Emma Christie, has taken action by raising over £3,000 for The Brain Tumour Charity while promoting her latest crime thriller. “I’ve often felt helpless in the face of such a life-changing diagnosis but by supporting the charity and helping to raise funds for research, I feel like I’m transforming the grief into positive action,” she stated.

As Lachlan and Hazel continue to navigate their lives with courage and humor, they remind us of the importance of resilience in the face of adversity. Their story highlights not just the harsh realities of living with brain tumours but also the power of familial support and determination.