A COUPLE’s world was “shattered into uncountable pieces” after their daughter was diagnosed with blood cancer.
Abbie Lewis, 22, and Jordan Gray, 23, say they are “walking through nothing short of hell” after finding out two-year-old Isla Joy Grace has acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) on February 5.
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The youngster, from Glasgow, first started showing symptoms earlier this year.
Doctors initially believed Isla had a viral infection, but her mum and dad became increasingly concerned about a rash on the tot’s legs.
When the mark spread up her back, they took the toddler to Glasgow Royal Hospital for Children.
Six hours later, at 3.45am, she was diagnosed with ALL.
The condition, which starts from the white blood cells in the bone marrow, affects around 440 children in the UK every year.
Abbie and Jordan want to raise awareness of the cancer while their little girl undergoes gruelling treatment, GlasgowLive reports.
Abbie said: “Our world has shattered into an uncountable number of pieces and we are walking through nothing short of hell.
“The anger and pain is absolutely unimaginable, being helpless and at the mercy of strangers, trusting they will make our baby better.
“After five weeks in hospital, our baby has endured three bone marrow harvests, three lumbar punctures, five blood transfusions, six platelet transfusions, 14 lots of chemotherapy and countless millilitres of liquid medications.
“We are watching our wild child laying in a strange bed in agony, and having the most horrific things done, and there is not one answer as to why or how?
“But Isla is the strongest two-year-old that has walked this earth and I have never been prouder in my life.
“She is the most amazing girl on the planet.”
Isla was discharged on March 8 and now visits as an outpatient.
The young family’s day-to-day life consists of “countless” appointments, medications and treatments.
Jordan is self-employed and unable to take time off work so Abbie’s mum Bobbie, 47 and her aunt Justine, 33, are fundraising to help them through this tough time.
They will also donate a portion of the money to the children’s cancer ward, which they said was “faultless”.
The anger and pain is absolutely unimaginable. We are walking through nothing short of hell
Abbie Lewis
Bobbie and Justine described little Isla as “the sassiest little girl” with an “incredible spirit”.
They added: “She is the most beautiful wee girl.
“The good thing is with her being so young [is that] she won’t remember this.
“She is taking it all in her stride and hasn’t moaned once, she is just fantastic. She is my superhero.”
The pair encouraged parents to “listen to their children” and “push for answers” from their GP if they are worried about unexplained symptoms.
“Pay attention to your child. If you think something isn’t right then stand your ground – you are their voice,” they added.
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The symptoms of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukaemia
Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) is a type of blood cancer.
It starts from white blood cells called lymphocytes in the bone marrow.
Anyone can get it, but it is most common in younger people, especially children aged four and under.
Symptoms often mimic other conditions, but kids might experience:
- Feeling weak or tired
- Flu-like symptoms
- A high temperature (fever)
- Picking up or not being able to shake off infections, such as coughs and colds
- Bruising and bleeding easily
- Weight loss
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Bone or joint pain
- Breathlessness
- Feeling full
- Looking pale or washed out
Some patients will also get a rash that looks like tiny red, purple or brown dots that don’t turn white when pressed.
Almost 90 per cent of children under 15 with ALL will survive for five years or more after being diagnosed.
Source: Cancer Research UK