In 2021, Steph from Canada noticed an unusual white, cloudy glow in her 16-month-old daughter Summer Raine's eye while taking a flash photo. Concerned, she shared her observation on TikTok and quickly took Summer to a Toronto emergency room. Doctors diagnosed Summer with retinoblastoma, a rare eye cancer that typically affects young children.
Despite undergoing three months of chemotherapy, Summer's tumor did not respond to the treatment. Consequently, her left eye was removed to prevent the cancer from spreading. Following the surgery, Summer remains cancer-free three years later.
Retinoblastoma is the most common eye cancer in children, affecting approximately 200 to 300 youngsters annually in the US, mostly under the age of two. Symptoms can include a white pupil, cloudy eye, misaligned eyes, and differing iris colors. The disease has a high survival rate of 96 percent.
Steph now advocates for retinoblastoma awareness, urging parents to check their children's eyes with a flash to detect any anomalies early. Retinoblastoma can be treated effectively if detected early, with methods ranging from laser treatments to surgery for larger tumors.