Mom prepares 3-year-old for her brain surgery

See: https://www.tiktok.com/@scarletthamilton/video/7552881363288968470

A toddler's response to the news of his mom's upcoming brain surgery has broken hearts on the internet.

Scarlett Hamilton (@scarletthamilton) from the north of England posted a clip on TikTok where she sits with her 3-year-old son, Zion, to explain gently that she's been given a date for an operation to remove the tumor in her brain.

“I was told I needed to prepare my little boy as much as I prepare myself for such a big operation,” the 24-year-old told Newsweek. “I used terms that a 3-year-old would be able to understand and focused on the day-to-day tasks we struggle to do will no longer be an issue.”

Balancing her own fears with keeping her child calm was one of the hardest moments she has faced as a single mom. “I did feel a sense of relief when I was told the date of my operation, but also very overwhelmed as it’s now truly feeling real,” she said.

Hamilton was diagnosed in 2024 with a brain tumor on the left side of her brain, which has also damaged the optic nerve in her left eye.

She had been experiencing symptoms for more than a year—including blurred vision, blackouts, severe migraines and panic attacks—before an MRI confirmed the cause.

Doctors later explained that the growth was pressing against her optic nerve, threatening her eyesight.

“They are going to remove part of the tumor sitting on my eye, however they cannot remove it all as it’s sat on the nerve that operates my left side of my body and could cause strokes if intervened with,” Hamilton explained.

The tumor, she said, will have to be closely monitored for the rest of her life. “Hopefully [they] will save my eyesight and help my symptoms so that day to day life isn’t always a task,” she said.

Hamilton admitted that when she received the phone call scheduling her surgery, her first feeling was “pure panic.”

“Although I know I’m in the best hands, I fear the worst with me having a child depending on me,” she added.

In the clip, the two go back and forth. Zion asking innocent questions, while Hamilton patiently clarified that while doctors will shave her hair and stitch her head to help make her better.

She also reassured Zion that while she’s in the hospital, he’ll stay with his grandparents. “I am fortunate to have a supportive family,” Hamilton said. “My mom and dad will help me care for my little boy while I go through the recovery.”

Hamilton’s clip has gone viral on TikTok, garnering over 190,000 views. She has also received thousands of supportive comments from other users who were touched by her honesty.

Zion's words, "Did you go without me?" broke hearts on the platform.

“You have got this! You’re stronger than you think,” one user wrote.

“As a mother my heart is absolutely breaking for you. I can’t even comprehend the feeling in your stomach while having this conversation,” another commented.

A third user said, “Such an amazing mom. So strong.”

“The reaction I received on social media was wholesome,” Hamilton said. “Things like this happen to lots of people and I want to share my journey to help others going through similar struggles that they are not alone.”

Daniella Gray

https://www.newsweek.com/mom-prepares-3-year-old-for-her-brain-surgery-what-he-says-breaks-hearts-10479949