A KEMBLE schoolgirl was diagnosed with a brain tumour after suffering from hallucinations while playing piggy-in-the-middle.

Now six-year-old Megan Taylor and her parents are set to attend a brain tumour charity family day to meet other families who have been through the same ordeal.

Megan, was diagnosed with petit mal epilepsy after she had regular episodes of zoning out and her worried parents took her to the GP.

But, after the North Cerney primary school pupil suffered hallucinations including an episode where she was playing piggy-in-the-middle with Dad Barry, 47, and brother Connor, 14, she was diagnosed with a brain tumour in October.

After a 12-hour operation to remove the tumour a few months later at Bristol Children’s Hospital, she is now recovering well from surgery.

Mum Tracy, 41, reflects on the ordeal, with the symptoms beginning a year before in October 2016.

Tracy said: ‘Looking back, we didn’t know they were symptoms of a brain tumour at the time, but overnight she just stopped sleeping properly.

“She seemed frightened.

“We just put it down to a phase, but now we know she was having hallucinations, triggered by her tumour.”

Last summer, Megan started blanking out.

“She’d be chatting away and suddenly she’d literally zone out for about 30 seconds,” said Tracy.

Last October Megan had an EEG which detects electrical activity in the brain as part of a check-up for her epilepsy.

When activity wasn't what they were expecting she was sent for an MRI scan where she was diagnosed with a brain tumour.

Megan had surgery on December 4 and it all went to plan with the operation a success.

The family are now going to attend The Brain Tumour Charity’s Gloucestershire Family Day at The Wilderness Centre in Gloucestershire on April 28 where activities include archery, den building, crafts, wall climbing and more.

They are supporting the charity’s award-winning HeadSmart campaign headsmart.org.uk, to raise awareness of children’s brain tumour symptoms and reduce diagnosis time.

“We were in shock when Megan was diagnosed with a brain tumour and had no idea her ‘zoning out’ and hallucinations were possible symptoms,” said Tracy.

“So we are backing HeadSmart to help raise awareness so more children get earlier, more accurate diagnosis.”

Emma Wood, the charity’s children and families manager, said; “We hope Megan – and the other children coming along to our Gloucestershire family day – will have a brilliant time.

“Our family days give children the chance to just be kids for a day and have fun.

“It also gives mums, dads and carers the opportunity to meet other parents and share their experiences and advice.”

If you’re interested in going to the family day, visit thebraintumourcharity.org/get-involved/events/family-day-children-living-brain-tumour/

For more information on HeadSmart visit heaadsmart.org.uk.