A 12-year-old child underwent six rounds of chemotherapy erroneously prescribed by the NHS due to a misdiagnosis. Faye Condon was mistakenly identified with Juvenile Dermatomyositis (JDM) at the age of five, a diagnosis her mother, Christina, claims has profoundly impacted her daughter’s life.

Despite the initial diagnosis, Christina harbored doubts and urged doctors at Bristol Children’s Hospital (BCH) to explore other potential illnesses. After seven years, Faye was eventually diagnosed with a form of muscular dystrophy that lacks any treatment options.

Christina, residing in Plymouth, Devon, expressed her frustration, stating that their lives have been consumed by hospital visits, devoid of vacations or suitable accommodations due to the belief that Faye’s condition would improve.

The misdiagnosis not only deprived Faye of a normal childhood but also subjected her to unnecessary medical treatments, including chemotherapy that led to severe side effects, such as contracting viral meningitis. According to Christina, if the correct diagnosis had been made earlier, Faye could have avoided the distressing treatments she endured.

After persistent requests for further examinations, Christina sought a second opinion from doctors at Derriford Hospital, who challenged the initial JDM diagnosis. Subsequently, Faye was referred to Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH), where she was correctly diagnosed with de novo Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy (EDMD) type 2, a condition that remains untreatable.

Christina lamented the impact of the misdiagnosis on her daughter’s life, highlighting Faye’s deteriorating health and the limitations she faces daily. She emphasized the missed opportunities for appropriate care and interventions had the correct diagnosis been made earlier.

In response to the family’s concerns, Professor Steve Hams from Bristol NHS Foundation Trust expressed regret and pledged to investigate the matter thoroughly, aiming to comprehend the family’s ordeal with empathy and care.