They spotted a glint in their son’s eye after taking his picture and it led to a diagnosis
Lowri Gallagher, 30, and her partner, Shane Stevenson, were concerned when they noticed a strange white glint in their son Kooper’s left eye in photos taken with the flash on. At first, Lowri didn’t think much of it, but when she saw the unusual glint in low light, the couple decided to investigate further.
They turned to Google, and the search results suggested the possibility of retinoblastoma, a rare type of eye cancer that’s often detectable through a camera flash. Worried, they took more pictures of Kooper, and the white glow was visible in every shot.
The Heartbreaking Diagnosis
The couple rushed Kooper to Birmingham Children’s Hospital, where doctors confirmed that their son had unilateral retinoblastoma. Tragically, the cancer had already caused him to lose vision in his left eye. The doctors informed them that chemotherapy might save the eye, but the outcome wasn’t guaranteed.
Shane recalled the moment of realization, saying, “My partner said she saw something funny in his eye, but I didn’t think much of it. A couple of nights later, I noticed it myself. When the lights were off, his pupil appeared white. It was subtle, but I Googled it and found that it could be eye cancer.”
A Mother’s Fear
Lowri described the week before the diagnosis as the hardest of her life. “I didn’t know what it was or how serious it could be. I was terrified Kooper might lose his eye. But once we knew what it was, at least the uncertainty was gone. Still, I felt numb. I didn’t know how to feel.”
Kooper is now undergoing intra-arterial chemotherapy, along with laser therapy and chemotherapy injections, which will continue for at least two years. Though he’s handling the treatment well, his parents say he doesn’t fully understand what’s happening, making it all the more difficult to watch.
A Warning to Other Parents
Shane shared that if they hadn’t noticed the glint in Kooper’s eye and acted quickly, they might have waited longer before seeking help. “If we hadn’t Googled it, I probably wouldn’t have gone to the GP urgently. I’d have probably waited until he got worse.”
Now, the couple is urging other parents to be vigilant about their children’s health and not ignore any signs that seem off.
To support Kooper and his family during this difficult time, a GoFundMe has been set up, and donations can be made online.