A 12-year-old girl from Edinburgh was diagnosed with leukemia after her symptoms were initially mistaken for COVID-19, according to her mother. Sophie Robertson began experiencing persistent headaches and a rash in November, prompting multiple visits to doctors who attributed her condition to either COVID-19 or an ear infection.

Despite repeated visits, Sophie’s symptoms worsened, including severe headaches, neck pain, and an inability to keep food down. After three weeks without improvement, her mother, Cheryl Robertson, insisted on a blood test, which finally led to the leukemia diagnosis.

Cheryl described the moment she received the news alone at around 1 a.m., while her husband, Stephen, remained at home with their younger daughter. The family subsequently spent seven months at Edinburgh’s Royal Hospital for Children, where they praised the medical staff for their care and support.

Sophie is now recovering at home and is expected to return to school following the summer break. Meanwhile, her younger sister, Bonnie, 8, has raised £3,000 for the Teenage Cancer Trust by cycling 50 miles with friends. Cheryl is urging other parents to trust their instincts when it comes to their children’s health in light of their experience.