'I thought my six-year-old daughter had a vomiting bug — it was a brain tumour'

Two years on from her daughter’s brain tumour diagnosis, and then surgery and chemo, Regiane Zaboto is hopeful

Luiza Bertunes Zaboto (second left) with her mum Regiane, sister Helena and dad Leonardo, following the conclusion of chemotherapy treatment in CHI Crumlin in August 2024

Two years ago, when Regiane Zaboto’s then six-year-old daughter Luiza began complaining of pain in her legs, got a fever, and was tired, the mother of three was not overly concerned.

“It was summer, when all kids seem a bit more tired, and lots of bugs were going on in the crèche, so it didn’t really alarm us until the other symptoms started,” says Limerick-based Regiane.