A brave young girl whose parents were told had a 50/50 chance of survival is celebrating five years being cancer-free. Hollie McNeill, 5, was diagnosed with leukaemia at eight weeks old after a doctor noticed she appeared pale.
As reported by Grimsby Live, Hollie, who lives in Scunthorpe, was tested for anaemia and sent for urgent blood tests. The shocking diagnosis came that same day – June 14, 2017.
Doctors at Scunthorpe General Hospital told the devastated family they had to travel to Sheffield Children's Hospital "as soon as possible", where they would stay for five weeks as Hollie underwent an operation to have a Broviac line – a line to allow for long-term access to blood – fitted, and where she began a course of intensive chemotherapy to fight the leukaemia.
Hollie's mum, Jennie Brookes, said: "When they told us she had leukaemia I didn't even know what it was and I just said, 'Is that cancer?' and from then, she was put onto antibiotics and a drip and we were told that we needed to get to Sheffield Children's Hospital as soon as possible. "I went home, got a suitcase packed - I knew it was a long-term thing - and came straight back.
"We were put into an ambulance and blue-lighted to Sheffield and we got there at 11.30pm. We turned up on this ward and it was dark, everyone was asleep, and we got put into a side room and didn't really know what was going on. The next day, she was sent to theatre and had a Broviac line fitted. Then she was given four rounds of intensive chemotherapy.
"For the first five weeks we couldn't come home, and then we were allowed to come home in between chemotherapy. But she had no immune system so we weren't allowed to be around friends or family or in any public spaces. It was horrendous. It's taken me a long time to be able to talk about it without crying."
Hollie underwent her last round of chemotherapy on November 11, 2017, and was given the all-clear in December 2017. Five years on, devoted Jennie is organising a fundraising party to celebrate Hollie being in remission for five years, with all proceeds going to Sheffield Children's Hospital.
Speaking of how it feels to know Hollie has been in remission for five years, Jennie said: "It feels overwhelming, it's such a huge relief."
Tickets to the event cost £5 per child and £1 per adult. You can purchase tickets or donate funds by sending Jennie a message on 07710 191554.
