A browser in the UK, Deryck Davies, has made contact after reading two articles which we published; one of the articles (4 Sept. 2018) mentioned a little girl, Janique that sadly has Neuroblastoma, a very aggressive childhood cancer. The second article (17 July 2018) 'Reach for a Dream' was of a group that helps children who suffer from life-threatening illnesses and inspires hope by helping them 'believe in the power of dreams'.
His true story below may give hope to those going through some bad times and may be of interest to other readers who may themselves be inspired to 'get involved'.
Deryck says, 'I understand of course, that not all stories have a happy ending and for those families that do not, you are in my thoughts.
My daughter has wanted to be a doctor, a particular type of doctor since she was five years old. Her dream is to qualify as a Paediatric Oncologist.
When 18 months old she was diagnosed with Neuroblastoma and had a 'grapefruit-sized tumor' (surgeon's words) in her chest. Chemotherapy did no good so surgery was the only route left. After nine hours in surgery, the tumor (and two ribs) were removed and ten days later she was home. Two further operations at six and ten years old, both around nine hours again and involving three teams of surgeons (Oncology, Neuro, and Orthopedic) removed tumor residue from within her spinal column and she had two 30cm rods put in her back.
We were helped after the first operation by a group in the UK called 'Wish upon a Star' who paid for a holiday for our family (4-year-old twin boys) to get back to some normality.
My daughter, who did her week's 'work experience' during her final year at school in surgery watching operations performed by the same Neurosurgeon that operated on her, is now nineteen years old and started her medical training in September this year.
Never lose hope. Follow your dreams.
As an aside; Deryck's daughter is a fully qualified Flautist, this allows her to teach music if she so wishes, she has performed at the Royal Albert Hall in London and is a completely self-taught Portrait Artist since Nov. 2013, commented on by none other than your own (late) Winnie Mandela.'
Pictured here is her Nelson Mandela portrait completed in June 2014.
News supplied.