'Having Leah home is the best Christmas present ever', says Risby mum
A delighted mum has told of her joy after doctors said her 10-year-old daughter could come home for Christmas – after winning her battle against cancer.
Abbey Hawes said she ‘hasn’t stopped smiling’ since being given the news and having daughter Leah home was ‘the best Christmas present ever’.
Brave Leah was given the all clear at Addenbrooke’s Hospital, in Cambridge, after battling cancer for the last six months.
She had been diagnosed with an aggressive form of the disease in July after first visiting her dentist – who spotted something was wrong.
But now the Ed Sheeran fan is back at home in Risby enjoying Christmas with her family.
“My face is aching from smiling so much now that Leah is back. It really is the best Christmas present ever,” said Abbey, 30, a school care assistant at Risby CEVC School.
“She is back to her usual lively self and playing with her brother, Taylor, and sister, Ruby, and they love having her back, too. It’s almost like she has never been away.”
Leah had been feeling ill for just three weeks when she visited Guildhall Dental Surgery in Bury St Edmunds earlier this year.
The Risby pupil had been feeling tired and complained of a constant ache in the left side of her face. At first, doctors thought she could be suffering anxiety at the thought of going back to school after lockdown. Another dentist thought she had’ crowded teeth’.
But after repeated calls to NHS 111, who thought it could be an abscess, mum Abbey booked a private appointment.
“The dentist, Jaina, looked worried and advised us to go straight to Addenbrooke’s,” said Abbey.
At the hospital, Leah was diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer called Burkitt Lymphoma. She asked: mummy, am I going to die?
Leah was in intensive care before undergoing eight rounds of chemotherapy in total.
Burkitt Lymphoma is very responsive to the treatment with up to a 94 per cent survival rate in children.
“I stayed with her throughout her time in hospital and she was very brave,” said Abbey.
“Her weight went down to just over 3st, she lost her hair, which she hated, but she still kept smiling.
“When she was given the all clear in November she was invited to ring the ‘end of treatment bell’, and everyone was in tears. After two more chemo injections, she came home last week.
On the way back she sang I’m on My Way by Ed Sheeran before asking if we could call at Claire’s accessory shop in Bury to pick up some new nails and earrings.
“A few days later when we went to collect her brother and sister from school, all her friends were waving and they had even included her in their Secret Santa.
“Sometimes, I still don’t think everything that has happened has sunk in, yet. It’s just amazing to have her home.”
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