THE work of Southampton doctors has seen a 13-year-old return to her love of national trampolining after a brain tumour diagnosis.

Sophie Gallagher had a series of seizures in April last year, and was diagnosed with a tumour on her brain.

Doctors gave the teenager two choices – to wait and see if it grew further or to have it operated on, which could permanently affect her balance.

After the diagnosis, she was ordered to avoid any strenuous exercise until she was given the all-clear, which could have taken a year.

Despite that, Sophie decided to have the tumour removed, with surgeons at Southampton hospital taking it out on July 1 last year and Sophie returning to competition less than six months later.

Sophie said: “I thought they were joking at first when they told me I had a brain tumour. The only time I felt scared was the night before the surgery.

“There are times I wish I hadn’t had the operation, like when I can’t do a certain trampolining move that I used to be able to do.

“I have to train more than before, but I really wanted to have the tumour taken our as it could have become cancerous.”

Two months ago Sophie, from the Isle of Wight, took part in a regional British Gymnastics contest in Milton Keynes.

Her mother Karen, a community carer, is sharing her family’s experience through the Brain Tumour Charity (BTC).

Karen, 44, said: “It was a very emotional moment to see her competing again. It’s just a matter of building up her confidence – her coaches have said that she’ll be back doing the national competitions.

“Because of the seizures, she was sent for a scan and when Sophie was out of the room, the doctor said ‘we’ve found something on her brain’.

“The doctor said that because she did national trampolining, she needed to know that if she had surgery, she might not be able to jump in a straight line afterwards.”

When an MRI scan at Southampton hospital confirmed the diagnosis, Sophie wanted to decide her way forward.

Karen added: “I felt that it was her brain and her tumour and she should be the one to decide what she wanted to do.”

Emma Tingley, director of services at BTC said: “Sophie’s determination is an inspiration to everyone, whatever their age.

“We wish her lots of luck with her trampolining.”