A number of days earlier than my eleventh birthday my mum, Nicola, began getting anxious about my stomach. It had been swelling, like a rugby ball. It wasn’t hurting however my garments have been tight.
To search out out what was improper my dad, Stuart, talked to a nurse on the telephone and I used to be booked in to see the physician.
A number of days later, the physician sat me on the mattress and felt my abdomen. He advised me that one thing wasn’t proper, and advised I may have liver failure.
I used to be actually scared – however I knew I’d be sorted. I used to be instantly despatched straight to The Princess Royal Hospital in Telford.
Once we arrived, a great deal of medical doctors got here in and requested questions and stated they wanted to do some checks.
In the course of the blood take a look at a pleasant nurse distracted me with a ‘discover the sloth’ e-book and that was when my obsession with sloths began!
When the outcomes got here again, a senior physician spoke to Dad in a personal room whereas I chatted to a stunning nurse concerning the costume I’d worn just lately in school for World E-book Day – I went as an Oompa Loompa and my greatest pal, Jade, wore the identical.
I didn’t know what the medical doctors advised my dad in that room however they wanted to ship me to Birmingham Youngsters’s Hospital for extra scans.
I used to be actually scared – however I knew I’d be sorted (Image: Grace McCann)
Dad has since stated he didn’t need to inform me what they suspected till he knew for sure, so I wouldn’t be upset. However I later discovered I had most cancers on my proper fallopian tube, known as dysgerminoma. It’s uncommon for a kid like me to get this kind because it’s often seen in ladies aged 50 and over.
After my first ever experience in an ambulance to hospital, I used to be led to a personal room, which had a particular air circulate so I had much less threat of catching coronavirus, and that’s the place I spent my eleventh birthday.
Guests have been restricted to at least one per affected person, so the nurses embellished my room and received me an artwork set as a result of I like drawing.
It additionally meant Mum and Dad couldn’t watch me open my presents on the identical time, which was actually upsetting, however I noticed them individually they usually received me an iPad so I may play video games and watch movies.
My aunt, Becky, additionally received me a sloth cuddly toy, which I known as Sammy. I took him all over the place I went; he brings me good luck.
Quickly after, the medical doctors advised me I wanted to have surgical procedure on my stomach to place some tubes in my chest that they known as ‘wiggles’.
My aunt received me a sloth cuddly toy, which I known as Sammy – he brings me good luck (Image: Grace McCann)
I used to be actually frightened on the concept of surgical procedure. I had by no means imagined having an operation in my life however I knew that the surgeons would take excellent care of me.
I awoke afterwards in intensive care and after I was again within the non-public room, Dad held my hand and at last advised me that I had most cancers. It was such a shock and I couldn’t cease crying.
I didn’t know anybody else who had most cancers however I knew it meant I used to be actually poorly.
I used to be fortunate to have Mum and Dad there to consolation me, and to have the ability to FaceTime pals like Jade. She cried after I advised her, too.
The medical doctors suggested that I needed to have chemo, and I used to be given a e-book explaining that I’d lose my hair – that was a giant fear.
Throughout my first session, the medication was put in through the wiggles and central line into my chest. It was a wierd feeling, but it surely didn’t take me lengthy to get used to it.
Primarily I used to be simply bored as a result of it took six hours, over three days, to complete. I watched movies and my dad and mom took it in turns to take a seat with me. I used to be a bit sick after my first chemo however quickly I felt effective.
I used to be capable of ring the particular bell on the kids’s ward when remedy is over (Image: Grace McCann)
After a protracted 4 weeks, in Might, I used to be capable of go dwelling. It was bizarre leaving my hospital room and at last getting recent air however I used to be actually excited, and completely happy to see my sister and two brothers once more. They shocked me with balloons and we had cake.
I had my second cycle of chemo a couple of weeks later. I didn’t really feel unwell this time however, similar to I had been dreading, my hair began to fall out lots. I awoke one morning to search out clumps of it on my pillow.
Ultimately, I felt fed up so I made a decision to shave all of it off.
I used to be lucky to get a protracted wig from the Little Princess Belief charity but it surely was blonde and my pure hair color’s brown and it had been lengthy, previous my shoulders. Actually, I simply wished that again.
I hoped my third chemo could be my final one however my CT scan confirmed the tumour was nonetheless there – though it had shrunk from a rugby ball to a tennis ball, which I used to be actually completely happy about.
I really like dancing so I celebrated my fourth and last chemo with a TikTok video.
Lastly, in August, I used to be given a date for the operation to take away my tumour.
On the day, I used to be terrified. I cried once they have been about to place me to sleep however – as all the time – the nurse with me was very nice. She advised me that she would ‘all the time be there’ and that made me really feel so significantly better.
I used to be in lots of ache for the primary hour after I awoke and I couldn’t discuss very nicely, however my mum was with me to make me chuckle.
After two days relaxation I used to be allowed dwelling and three weeks afterwards, they stated I may have my wiggles taken out. I used to be overjoyed!
It meant I used to be ready to return to high school. I had missed my pals and couldn’t wait to get again to do artwork and drama.
In October 2020, my medical doctors advised me there was no most cancers left in me. I used to be capable of ring the particular bell on the kids’s ward for when remedy is over.
I used to be thrilled and my household and I celebrated with a dinner out at a restaurant close to our home.
I nonetheless need to have a blood take a look at performed as soon as each month and scans each three months however I don’t thoughts. Sammy the sloth’s at my aspect for each appointment.
I really feel constructive concerning the future and I’m wanting ahead to Christmas.
My hair has grown again, though it’s solely about three inches lengthy and is a lighter brown. Finally I’d prefer it to be lengthy like Ariana Grande’s.
I need to assist others really feel higher, although. The wig I had meant lots to me, so I’m rising my hair and I’ll donate it to another person poorly like I used to be.
Grace wrote this text with the assistance of father Stuart.
Having been supported by most cancers charity CLIC Sargent all through her remedy, she is now sharing her story to boost consciousness of childhood most cancers. To search out out extra go to https://www.clicsargent.org.uk
