A young schoolgirl has stunned the medical by becoming the first person in the UK to win the battle against a rare form of cancer. Eleven-year-old Jeanie-May Cooke underwent pioneering treatment to beat Histiocytic Sarcoma, a cancer of the central nervous system.
Following a fight that lasted more than four years, Jeanie-May, from Cleethorpes, visited Sheffield Children's Hospital to meet her oncology doctor Dan Yeomanson, who is writing a medical paper on his brave patient, and have her Portacath removed which has been used for the access for drugs in her fight against leukaemia in 2017 and subsequent cancer.
Jeanie-May has undergone therapy involving a new drug called Trametinib, and has become the first person in the UK to overcome the aggressive form of cancer with which she was diagnosed in 2018. Earlier that year she had to have most of her right leg amputated because of complications. She has a wheelchair to help her get around school where she has lots of friends.
Jeanie-May's mum Katie Hannaford told Grimsby Live: "Jeanie is now cancer free and we are planning a big birthday bash on August 20 and will hire a big bell so Jeanie can ring it to say she is all better and thank everyone who has supported her."
She said the success is a far cry from the days when her family was told in 2018 the cancer had spread to her lungs, kidney and liver and there was not much more they could do apart from send Jeanie to a hospice. Doctors spoke with parents Katie and Ben and advised how to break the news to Jeanie-May that there was nothing more to do.
Katie said: "I pleaded with them to try to find a way and liaise with a specialist in America who was using a pioneering drug. The drug she was on before the bone marrow transplant saved Jeanie's life. Remember, when somebody says you can’t do it, there is always a first person that can. She is that first person. Never give up hope. Fight with your all, dream big and achieve bigger. Jeanie has proved them all wrong."
All her family and friends are proud of her achievement and her success at school, where Jeanie has gained a passion for performing arts and French. She holds an ambition to be an ice-cream lady and wants to set up her own Cookies Creams business. She has regularly bought an orange ice lolly since she was a little girl. Katie said: "It is wonderful to see her being a normal child, a chance we thought she would never get.
"She missed a lot of her primary school time but is doing well at Havelock Academy and as soon as the alarm goes at 7am, she is as bright as a button and raring to go." She told how Jeanie-May loves going to the arcades in Cleethorpes and going out to dinner to enjoy her favourite garlic bread with cheese.
Katie said: "Having had all the family in support has been a big part to play in her achievement. We are all positive and have always kept everyone's spirits high. One of the greatest joys is her pet dog Rufus who loves her as much as she loves him. He sits with her all the time."
Jeanie-May said: "The people who donate their bone marrow so that people like me can have a transplant are amazing. I do not know who they are but I am very pleased and thank them for their donation."
Katie added: "There are some very generous people. The number of lives we have seen saved by donors in wonderful. Jeanie-May thanks them all and she likes to read all the messages on Facebook and she smiles from ear to ear because there are so many people who care and support her."
