The parents of a one-year-old baby girl are trying to make as many memories as possible after their daughter was diagnosed with brain cancer. Faith, who was born premature at 28 weeks, was diagnosed with an atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumour, a very rare and fast-growing tumour, earlier this year at just seven months old.
Despite a number of difficult treatments and many months spent in hospital, doctors at Barnsley and Sheffield hospitals in Yorkshire say the only alternative treatment is an American drug.
On March 16, Faith was rushed from Barnsley Hospital to Sheffield. She was unconscious and had only half an hour to reach Sheffield. Her mum, Keeley Diane Haigh, 19, from Barnsley, told YorkshireLive: “We found out two weeks ago that she has grown two more tumours, one in her spine and one in the back of her head. Faith’s consultant said we need to start helping her because we don’t know what is around the corner.
"She is not old enough for radiation and when she was first taken to hospital it was so scary, she wasn't stable and we didn't think she would make it."
When Faith arrived at Sheffield doctors rushed her into surgery and the parents were told by a consultant that there was a high chance she would not make it. There followed 12 hours of surgery to have the tumour removed.
The mother said: “They took her and literally ran to surgery. They said there was a very high chance she wasn’t going to make it and all I remember is I took her and kissed her and then they came and showed me the tumour — it was the size of a tennis ball.
"They managed to release some pressure off her brain. She was down there for 12 hours - they told me to leave but I could not leave, I was literally sat outside, I felt sick, she lost two bodies worth of blood during the operation.
“Thankfully I got the call that Faith was out of theatre and me and Tyler had never run so fast. The doctor said they managed to remove all the tumour. I was so grateful."
Keeley and Faith's dad Tyler thought that was the end of it but sadly three weeks later the tumour returned. An MRI scan picked up the tumour and on March 30 the family found out the sad news that it was cancerous. Keeley said: "Everything looked bright and then it was back to theatre.”
Throughout all of this Keeley and Tyler have been trying to raise awareness of her story, setting up a fundraiser to try and take her on holiday so they can create some lasting memories.
If the US drug Faith is now taking doesn't work, her consultant has said she will face no other option than end of life care. Her mother wants to share the real truth about cancer in children and give her the best life possible. Keeley said: “I just want her to have a good life in whatever she has left.
“I really want Faith’s story to be heard, it’s not pretty, but this is the life of children with cancer, it’s horrible, we have been told by Faith’s consultant, if the drug doesn’t work that will be the end of it, she will be on palliative care, so that’s why we want to make some memories with her."
The fundraiser has so far raised over £1,600 of the £2,000 goal. You can donate to Faith's appeal here.
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