A young girl who died with a rare form of brain cancer had her initial symptoms dismissed after they were blamed on spending too much time playing Roblox on the family iPad.
Myla Lilly Broadey-Meears, 10, began dealing with severe headaches and dizziness that gradually made day-to-day life harder. At first, those problems were thought to be linked to eye strain.
But when she was taken for an eye examination, the appointment led to a far more serious discovery. Myla was diagnosed with an aggressive diffuse midline glioma, and she tragically died in January this year.
Her symptoms had started only around six months earlier during a family trip to North Yorkshire, England. While away, she developed headaches alongside sickness and trouble with her balance.
Her mother, Chantelle Broadey, 29, assumed the issue might be connected to screen time and booked an optician appointment, thinking Myla could simply need glasses.
Instead, doctors found a brain tumour measuring roughly three inches, which was behind the neurological changes Myla had been experiencing.
Myla was quickly taken to a children’s hospital where surgeons removed as much of the tumour as possible. She also endured 30 rounds of radiotherapy, but she died on January 15.
Because diffuse midline gliomas are difficult to detect early, Chantelle said the cancer was already Stage 4 once it was found, meaning it was malignant and spreading rapidly.
Now, Chantelle is speaking out to help other families recognise symptoms that might otherwise be brushed off, urging parents to pay attention to warning signs that could point to a brain tumour.
She also shared a tribute to her “incredibly brave” daughter, describing Myla as a “beautiful little girl” who enjoyed cheerleading, camping, and shopping trips with her mum. Chantelle said Myla’s favourite artist was Ella Henderson.
Recalling when the changes first became clear, she said: “Myla had been fine just a month before we went on a caravan break to Primrose Valley. She had competed in her school sports day.
“But while we were there she started suffering from headaches and was wearing shades all the time. She didn’t want to take part in any activities which was really out of character.
“She loved a climbing wall but really struggled on the first step, so we noticed her getting a bit off balance and clumsy. The day after the holiday we went to a Taylor Swift tribute act but she wasn’t interested and wanted to come home.
“I wear glasses so we thought maybe that’s what she needed and it was down to eye strain or playing Roblox on her iPad or something like that. We thought it could be dehydration too.
“Another symptom was that her face had started to droop on one side, especially when she smiled. We thought she just had a new smile and didn’t think much to it but looking back at photos we can now see clearly.
“We took her to the doctors but they just said to keep an eye on things and monitor her – looking back I wonder whether I could have done more but I guess that’s parental guilt. After the holiday we booked her in for an eye test the following Thursday and my mum took her along.
“I think they gave her a full MOT and spotted something straight away. They told my mum to call me and Myla’s dad and gave us a letter to take to A&E which they told us not to open.
“We went to Grimsby Hospital and a CT scan revealed the tumour – she was blue lighted to Sheffield Hospital that night. Three days later she had an operation to remove 60 per cent of the tumour.”
Chantelle said that after surgery and further treatment, Myla’s health and personality were profoundly affected.
Chantelle added: “Before she was always on the go and couldn’t sit still for two minutes but it left her with left-side weakness, so from that surgery she was bed-bound. From that surgery, she didn’t come out the same. We’ve been grieving her since then really.
“She wasn’t the chatty little girl that she was, she just stared at the ceiling all the time and wasn’t really with it. We had her good days, where she was quite chatty and we did get a few giggles out of her, but it would literally be 10 minutes of a day and then that would be it.”
Myla’s father, Zak Meears, 30, also paid tribute to his daughter.
Myla’s dad Zak Meears, 30, said: “She never deserved what she got, no child does. She was the most amazing, funniest, beautiful daughter I could ever wish for, and such a loving big sister to her young brothers.
“Her name and smile will never be forgotten, forever in our hearts.”