'My toddler started forgetting words ... I was shocked at the diagnosis'

“I knew something was wrong when they were halfway through their tests and a whole bunch of doctors walked back in."

When Emily’s two-year-old son Viker started ‘stumbling’ and forgetting words, she thought he was displaying stubborn toddler behaviour.

However, being a childcare worker, she decided to keep a journal of his unusual regressions, and it ended up potentially saving her little boy’s life.

“There were a lot of things I questioned at first,” the mum told 7Life.

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“He was stumbling a lot, he would lose his footing, his language should have been better too.

“He was always learning new words, but he was losing the ones he already knew.”

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Emily with her son Viker shortly after his surgery. Picture: 7Life

"That is huge isn't it?"

When Viker’s language significantly regressed within the space of a week, she took him to the GP who put them on a waiting list to see a paediatrician.

Then, Viker completely lost his ability to speak.

“He had a handful of words he knew, then nothing,” Emily said.

7Life reports Emily rushed her son to the ED where doctors ordered a scan of his brain.

“I knew something was wrong when they were halfway through their tests and a whole bunch of them walked back in,” she said.

Emily’s heart sank when a doctor showed her an image of Viker’s MRI scan, showing a large white mass encompassing the little boy’s brain.

“It was obvious,” Emily told 7Life.

“I just remember saying, ‘that is huge isn’t it?’.”

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Viker had a 7cm tumour surgically removed. Picture: 7Life

Surgery just the first blow for 'little warrior'

Viker had a 7cm tumour - about the size of a lime - pressing against the part of his brain that controls language development.

7Life reports Emily was told surgery was necessary, and they spent the next 48 hours preparing the two-year-old to go under the knife.

Meanwhile, Viker was deteriorating fast as the tumour continued to press against his brain.

Before the surgery, Emily was warned Viker may lose control of the right side of his body, and after the surgery she was told he could return to a ‘newborn’ state.

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The surgery seemed to be a success and the tumour was found to be benign, but there was still a risk the rare tumour could return.

However, 7Life reports Viker’s battle still wasn’t over, as he was soon diagnosed with meningitis after an infection, requiring another surgery to remove fluid build-up in his brain.

Then another blow: the surgeon’s predictions had come true, and Viker’s development was on par with a newborn child.

The two-year-old was put into weekly therapies, and the little “warrior” never gave up.

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Viker is now a happy and healthy five-year-old. Picture: 7Life

"We are forever grateful"

7Life reports he quickly began to excel in his therapies, and soon took his ‘first steps’ for the second time.

His language also continued to improve, and he was soon on par with his peers.

“I don’t think now, looking at him, you would know,” Emily said.

Now, Viker will get to live out his greatest wish thanks to Make-A-Wish Australia: Spending a day with Spider-Man.

“I question it all the time: ‘Do we deserve Make A Wish?’,” Emily told 7Life.

“We are forever grateful. Viker just loves Spider-Man and wants to help him fight the baddies.

“Make-A-Wish gives children something to look forward to, something to brighten up their day, they bring a smile to their faces.”

Originally published as 'My toddler started forgetting words ... I was shocked at the diagnosis'