Brave Lauren shrugs off pain from tumours to put others first
Siew Peng Lee • Published 3 Feb 2012 08:40
5 Comments
SHE already has 23 tumours all over her body and could now face chemotherapy and operations as the tumours might have spread to her organs.
Yet a brave Cairneyhill teen who's on medication "all the time" due to a rare genetic disorder is ready to take on ghosts to help others in need.
Big-hearted Lauren Riddell (15), of Garden Place, suffers from neurofibromatosis, which causes painful tumours all over her body and nervous system.
The S4 Queen Anne High pupil has neurofibromas behind both ears, a lesion on the right side of her brain, problems with her vision caused by Lisch nodules on her right eye and markings all over her body.
Nevertheless plucky Lauren still helps to care for her disabled dad, James (45), and brother Chris (19), who also has neurofibromatosis and an eating disorder.
She's raised more than £5000 for charity through various activities, including walking the Forth Road Bridge and sponsored cycles - despite struggling to walk and suffering pain in her knees, hips and ankles.
In addition, she's fund-raised for the Diane Wishart Appeal and helped buy a plasma TV and PSP3 for the Queen Margaret Hospital.
And in her latest fund-raising effort, Lauren will be sponsored to brave a night in March at the supposedly haunted Castle Menzie, Aberfeldy, in aid of the Neuro Foundation.
This is despite the possibility of her condition having got worse - she fainted at school a few months ago - but courageous Lauren isn't going to let it get her down.
She told the Press, "I've been missing a few days of school a week because of the pain and I can't walk far.
"In November my back started getting sore, when I was lying down, bending over or just standing up and I've been having really bad headaches.
"There were purple 'dents' and when we went to the doctor he suspected the tumours were starting to grow inwards and I had MRI scans on my body and brain.
"The absolute worst case scenario is if the tumours are on my organs and really big, I'll need chemotherapy to make them small enough to be operated on. Hopefully that doesn't happen.
"The best case scenario is if they're on my nerves, because that way they can be removed. If not I'll have to live with the pain.
"It does scare me but I just have to get on with it. I always try and think about how other people have it worse, so I haven't been too sad about it."
Lauren's expected to get her MRI results yesterday (Thursday) but is focusing on her haunted night out, where she'll be sponsored by Dunfermline firm, Vizzini Bathrooms.
She said, "I decided to do something scary because having an illness is really scary.
"I wanted to do something that resembled that but it should be fun and I'm excited about it."
Lauren's good works and kindness were recognised when she won the Press Good Neighbour quaich in 2010 and she has also been nominated for the Bighearted Scotland and Young Scot Unsung Hero awards.
And she's already looking at doing even more fund-raisers in the next two years, to save up £5000 and set up her own charity, Lauren's Gift.
She hopes it will help make West Fifers' dreams come true, in the way that the Make-A-Wish Foundation granted her wish to swim with dolphins as a child.
She said, "That was a really big thing for me because it took my mind off being ill.
"I thought it'd be great if I could do the same for people in the area and give them their wish for a day."
Anyone who would like to sponsor or help Lauren should call 07590 902981.
Have your say. Post a comment on this article.
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hazelkaye
225 posts
Feb 4, 15:59
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lapland
2 posts
Feb 5, 20:12
Report commentThank you for the lvly comment. We are so proud of lauren and everything she does.
Lauren has just been told bad resluts of her MRI and is very down, and we appreciate any support she gets xx
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Yes 7
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kaka30
141 posts
Feb 6, 09:32
Report commentYour an amazing girl Lauren & reading the article above makes me realise that the things my family & myself worry about are so futile in comparrison.
So sad to hear that the MRI results werent good but if anybody can beat this, you can Lauren. x
Recommend? Yes 6
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ProfessorLayton
11 posts
Feb 8, 14:36
Report commentAn amazing girl and truly an inspiration.
Desperately sad to read of the bad results, but agree with kaka30 in that if anybody can beat this then Lauren can.
Best wishes from me and all my family x
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lapland
2 posts
Feb 8, 21:57
Report commentThank you so much. Lauren has since raised another £200, and is going to the kids ward to see what children she can pay for to have a day out... Lauren has had a bad few days and been off school but never complains xxx
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