Sarah McKeown, a devoted mother from Quedgeley, is raising funds to take her five-year-old son, Mason Hogg, on a special trip to Legoland. Mason, who is “Lego mad,” faces a challenging battle against multiple rare brain tumours affecting his eyes, skull, ears, and neck.
The first signs of trouble appeared during a family holiday in Cornwall last July when Mason’s left eye began to swell, initially mistaken for a stye. Despite months of appointments with ophthalmologists at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital ruling out serious issues, a local GP’s referral to an adult ophthalmologist revealed abnormalities behind Mason’s eye.
In October, worsening headaches and eye pain led to an MRI at Bristol Children’s Hospital, confirming a tumour in Mason’s nose pressing on both optic nerves. He was initially diagnosed with Grade 1 meningioma—a rare tumour that grows around the brain and skull fluid. Surgical removal or stereotactic radiation are the primary treatments, and Grade 1 tumours are generally less aggressive.
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However, Mason’s condition quickly progressed. His left eye bulged outward by approximately 5mm, described by Sarah as resembling “a golf ball stuck on the outside of his eye.” Further scans revealed multiple Grade 2 meningiomas located behind both eyes, the skull base, near teeth, and behind the nose.
Remarkably, some of these tumours are so rare that doctors informed Sarah Mason may be the first child worldwide diagnosed with them, complicating treatment planning. Surgical removal carries significant risks, especially given Mason’s young age and size.
Before Christmas, Mason developed a harsh cough and a hoarse voice, later linked to a tumour behind his right ear that paralyzed his right vocal cord, impairing breathing. The tumour was even causing abnormal skull bone growth.
On January 5, Mason underwent a craniotomy to remove the softer parts of the tumour near his skull base via his eye and nose. The surgery was a success, with Mason astonishing doctors by waking up shortly afterward and quickly tapering off pain medication.
Yet challenges remain. A tumour is now affecting Mason’s right eye, threatening his optic nerve and risking vision loss. Another dormant tumour in his neck, discovered in October, still awaits biopsy. Mason’s family is anxiously awaiting his next MRI scans scheduled for mid-April.
Sarah hopes to take Mason and his older brothers on a family outing to Legoland before further biopsies that could impact his hearing. She has created a GoFundMe page to cover the £3,000 cost for the trip and accommodations, and so far has received over £6,000 in donations.
“It’s overwhelming and amazing,” Sarah said. “Mason is a lovely, polite boy who everyone adores. He used to be very active, playing football, tennis, swimming, and street dance. He misses those things but fights through.”
Sarah shared that Mason is bright and inquisitive, fully aware of his treatments and scans. “He never cries or complains, he listens and accepts what needs to be done. I have to stay strong for him.”
With his love for Lego fueling his courage, Sarah hopes the family trip will bring Mason joy: “He wants to build a Lego museum, so this visit will mean so much to him.”