While watching her children play together in the bath, Welsh mum Bronte Richard noticed something unusual with her daughter’s eye, which led to the discovery she had cancer in both eyes
A mum’s life was turned upside down after she noticed something unusual in a photo of her baby daughter, which led to the heartbreaking discovery that she had cancer.
Bronte Richards first spotted a strange white glow in her eight-month-old daughter Raye’s eye after accidentally taking a picture with the flash on. What she initially brushed off as a lighting issue soon became a terrifying sign of a rare childhood cancer.
The 32-year-old, from Llanhilleth, Wales, said she first noticed something wasn’t right while Raye was sitting in her high chair, but assumed it was just the kitchen lights reflecting in her eye. Weeks later, the worrying sign appeared again.
While Raye was splashing in the bath with her nine-year-old brother Dawson, Bronte snapped a photo of the pair and the flash unexpectedly fired.
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When she looked at the picture, Raye’s right eye was glowing white, while the other eye, and Dawson’s, showed the usual red-eye effect.
The worried mum said: “When the doctor told me that Raye had cancer, I was shocked. I had prepared myself for her to be fine after I was told she was OK.
“I immediately thought she was going to die, he said the tumour was so big that it covered her whole right eye. I was thinking that Raye would need to get her eye removed. I just didn’t know why any of this was happening.”
On December 19, 2024, Bronte started researching the symptoms she had seen and became increasingly alarmed, as everything seemed to point towards eye cancer. Her GP reassured her there was nothing to worry about, but still concerned, Bronte took Raye to a local optician.
Bronte said: “I explained my concerns, and Raye was seen within an hour. When the light was flashed into her right eye, she didn’t flinch, but when flashed in her left eye, she reacted. They said they would refer her to the emergency eye clinic, but, being so close to Christmas, she would be seen after Christmas.”
Despite trying to make the festive period special, Bronte admitted she was filled with dread. On January 2, 2025, Raye was seen at Royal Gwent Hospital, where an eye specialist initially told Bronte there was nothing to worry about and suggested Raye had a stretched retina.
But just days later, after a more detailed examination, the family received shattering news after visiting a senior eye doctor at the Royal Gwent.
“He did an in-depth examination and said, ‘I’m so sorry, Raye has retinoblastoma, her tumours look aggressive,” the mum explained. “I remember just falling to the floor, holding my baby. I was shouting ‘No, No, No, you are wrong! We were told last week it was nothing. Our whole world had been turned upside down.”
Raye was transferred to Birmingham Women’s and Children’s Hospital, where doctors confirmed she had bilateral retinoblastoma, cancer in both eyes.
The baby underwent six months of chemotherapy to shrink the tumours, followed by ongoing laser therapy to keep the disease under control.
Bronte continued: “Chemotherapy was the best option for now, alongside laser therapy. Raye had chemotherapy every month, and as soon as she received it, she would be admitted with a temperature. She had many line infections, line repairs, and two new lines fitted. Her last chemotherapy was in June 2025.”
Although Raye’s tumours cannot be removed, specialists say the cancer is now being managed successfully, and Raye is doing much better than first feared.
Bronte explained: “Raye is doing amazing now. She responded so well to chemotherapy. She has little to no activity in her tumours, but they are being treated with laser therapy.
“It was a very long six months of chemotherapy, with hardly any time at home and juggling both my children. She is navigating life with just one working eye, and you can tell because she is reaching all her milestones.”
Richard Ashton, chief executive of the Childhood Eye Cancer Trust (CHECT), said Raye’s story highlights the importance of early awareness.
He said: “Raye’s story shows the importance of retinoblastoma awareness among health professionals. We are grateful that Raye’s diagnosis was confirmed and that she was able to receive treatment. If you’re worried that a child you know may have retinoblastoma, please take them to a GP or optician as soon as possible.”