Saved by a cuddle
Granny Noreen felt pain in her chest from Aidan’s squeeze – and had a double mastectomy six weeks later
A WEE boy’s cuddle saved his granny’s life.
When little Aidan Lewis, eight, launched himself at his granny, Noreen Lewis, 67, she recoiled with the pain in her chest.
And by the next morning, when the pain hadn’t subsided, she instinctively knew there was something more than an overexuberant cuddle to blame.
Noreen was able to see her GP the next day and less than six weeks later, on August 19, she had a double mastectomy after being diagnosed with cancer in both breasts.
And it was not the first time a little boy had saved her life from breast cancer – Aidan’s dad saved her the first time she had the disease 27 years ago.
Back then Robbie, 28, was just a baby and when he was having trouble breast feeding, Noreen realised something was wrong and went to the doctor.
She was just 39 and mum of three boys under the age of five. But because she caught it quickly she only needed a lumpectomy and radiotherapy.
This time, thanks to Aidan, it was also caught quickly. She opted for a double mastectomy but because it hadn’t spread anywhere she was again able to avoid a punishing chemotherapy regime.
Noreen was a nurse at Cheltenham General Hospital at the time of her first diagnosis.
Two years later, she and husband Steve moved back to Glasgow where she had all her follow-up appointments.
She said: “When Aidan learned about the story, he was reluctant at first to have his photo taken because he said he didn’t want to be known as the boy who hurt his gran.
“I explained to him it was because of what he did that I found out I wasn’t well and had been able to have some lumps cut out.
“But he’s not allowed to do superhero any more, just ordinary cuddles.”
Aidan, who goes to St Elizabeth’s Primary in Hamilton, said: “I got a fright when I hurt my gran but she’s OK now, so that’s good.”
Noreen, from Cambuslang, was full of praise for the staff at Gartnavel General , Glasgow, saying: “The surgical team and the nurses on the wards were incredible. I am a retired nurse myself so I really appreciated that they went above and beyond.
“In the middle of a pandemic, they sti l l provided first- class specialist care.”