'If it weren't for Dr Teo, I'd be blind and dead': Former patient backs brain surgeon amid controversial bid to operate on terminally ill child
When Brittney Loudoun was diagnosed with a brain tumour at the tender age of 14, she was told it was inoperable.
Neurosurgeons at a Sydney Children’s Hospital told her the cancer could not be removed because of its close proximity to surrounding brain structures.
Over several visits, the doctors said they could ‘trim’ the tumour but not remove it entirely because it was too close to the pituitary gland – an essential pea-sized body responsible for controlling growth and development and the functioning of other glands.
Unsatisfied, Brittney and her family sought the help of brain surgeon Dr Charlie Teo, who this week slammed the Sydney Children’s Hospital for denying him the chance to save an 18-month-old struck with cancer.
“My parents didn't like how [the neurosurgeons] responded to my tumour growing so we got a second opinion from Charlie Teo,” Brittney told Yahoo7.
“And I am so glad that we did.”
Her supportive parents Darryl and Leanne took out a second mortgage to cover the costs of her surgery.
Dr Teo performed the surgery that year and was able to remove the tumour entirely.
“He has saved my life. If it wasn't for him I would be blind today and dead within two years,” Brittney said.
“Words can't describe how grateful I am... He is a true champion.”
Brittney is grateful to be turning 22 this October and believes other children should have the same opportunity to receive help from her hero doctor.
“He is a wonderful man and he should have the opportunity to save other children's lives just like he did with mine.
Neurosurgeons have operated and provided treatment to the 18-month-old baby dying of a brain tumour, but they have determined the cancer to be inoperable.
Dr Teo, however, has beaten the odds before.
“I have a child who’s dying from a brain tumour. It’s a benign tumour. It doesn’t respond to chemo and radiotherapy typically. It responds very well to surgery,” he told Fairfax.
“I’ve taken many of these tumours out before with some good and bad results but mostly good results. I’m willing to give it a shot."
Dr Teo accused the hospital of being territorial and ignoring reason because its own doctors had diagnosed the tumour.
He said he hasn’t received a referral from the hospital in 17 years.
Other doctors have expressed concerns that he is offering ‘false hope’ to patients by offering them one last chance to beat the terminal illness.
The allegations come amid accusations of severe bullying in the medical profession, which Dr Teo described as ‘extreme’.
“It’s more extreme than you’ve been led to believe,” he said.
“Without being hyperbolic, it’s worse than you can imagine. It’s Machiavellian."
Dr Teo believes it should be up to the family of the patient to decide whether or not the child undergoes surgery – and his success story, Brittney, agrees.
“He saving their lives and I don't understand how the other doctors can't see this.”
