A 12-year-old schoolgirl from Co Down has opened up on the heartbreak of having a sibling who is battling cancer.
Ingrid Rothwell's brother Austin, who is now 14, was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in June 2018.
He spent eight months in hospital before getting home, with three of those months spent in ICU on a ventilator.
Read more: NI student speaks about being diagnosed with one in a million condition
Ingrid and Austin's mum Nicola has explained how a cancer diagnosis 'rips a family 's world apart'.
Austin said that before his diagnosis, he was always "anxious and scared of life".
The Kircubbin teen said: "I was scared of hospitals, lifts, etc. In the lead up to my diagnosis, I had felt tired, I was bruising easily, and just didn’t feel like myself. In other words, I knew something was wrong. Then I was diagnosed. At first I was really frightened and in utter denial but after the shock I focused on staying alive. The treatment worked really well and was effective.
"However it did cause a few side affects. I spent over a month in ICU and had to learn how to walk again. Eventually the day came where I was discharged from hospital, but it had left me with physical and mental scars.
"After the main phase of treatment had finished, life still wasn’t easy. However thanks to Cancer Fund For Children me and my family were able to go to Daisy Lodge and just chill out.
"I’ve also had many other experiences that I’ll never forget thanks to this charity. This period of time really helped us when nothing else could."
Austin's sister Ingrid described the moment her and her younger brother Bruce found out just how sick their sibling was, and how family life changed.
The student told Be : "We were living in Belfast at the time and he was going for doctors appointments. We found out one day as our parents just had to break it to us as we didn't really know what was going on at first.
"One day he was put into hospital so our parents told us he had cancer. It was a shock because none of us thought it was much at the time, we thought he just wasn't feeling the greatest.
"I was really sad and angry, almost because I didn't want it to ever happen.
"Me and Austin have always been very close, we like the same things and spend a lot of time together.
"[When he received his diagnosis], we were in the middle of moving house, but we couldn't really as it was too far away from the hospital."
The Co Down student also explained how hard it was not seeing her brother for months.
She said: "Me and my little brother weren't allowed to see him much as we weren't allowed in his ward, so we didn't see him for a long time. We didn't see him for about four or five months.
"It was really sad because I didn't know what he was going through, what he was like or how bad it was.
"We'd never see both mum or dad at the same time, always one of them would be in the hospital with Austin.
"He is doing really good at the minute and is getting a lot better. [I am proud of him] as he was always worried about cancer, he had major anxiety, so when he got it, it affected him mentally the most as well. I am proud of how he has been able to stay happy and how he was able to cope. He's back to his normal self now."
The Rothwell family spent some time together at Daisy Lodge - Cancer Fund for Children's purpose-built therapeutic centre located in Newcastle for families affected by cancer.
Ingrid said: "It was really nice to just spend some time together in a less crowded environment and to have a chance to do normal things together, as we weren't really able to go out places.
"It really helped to do activities together. It gave a bit of normality back to our lives."
Ingrid continued: "Cancer Fund for Children supported our family through these times and brought some happiness into our lives.
"Their Youth Advisory Group is made up of young people from the age of 8 to 24. We gather the opinions of young people to help decide the future projects and priorities of Cancer Fund for Children.
"They were looking for people so me and my brother put ourselves out there and applied.
"I wanted to contribute as much to the charity as possible before my time with them has finished. I feel like they have done so much for our family and I wanted to give back."
Their mum Nicola told Be: "I am extremely proud of Austin and how he has dealt with a life-changing diagnosis. I am also very proud of Ingrid and her brother Bruce who faced this time with such grace and dignity.
"At a time when chaos was all we knew and a new way of living was the norm, Cancer Fund for Children gave us sanctuary in Daisy Lodge. You can not underestimate the relief when you walk in the doors of Daisy Lodge and leave cancer behind for a few days. You can not underestimate the impact of a few days where you don’t have to cook, clean or do the normal household activities.
"It’s a place where you can just be family, just be together and be supported. It’s a slice of heaven and we were so blessed to have this amazing charity support us still to this day.
"I am very proud of Ingrid and Austin putting themselves forward for the Youth Advisory Group. They were both keen to give back."
"Cancer, whether a diagnosed young person, a sibling, a bereaved young person or a child of a parent diagnosed, they all have a unique and individual journey.
"What is evident is that every journey is uncomfortable but not impossible. With the help of CFFC, these young people can be supported and learn to live in a new world that is very different."
The young members of the Cancer Fund for Children’s Youth Advisory Group have organised a mile long walk at Antrim Castle Gardens on March 19, inviting members of the public to wear uncomfortable shoes to make the task more difficult and reflect the challenge of living with cancer.
If you would like to attend the Mile in My Shoes event, CLICK HERE.
Read more: Co Antrim girl diagnosed with brain tumour after falling down stairs
Read more: Belfast man's tribute to shipyard worker father after prostate cancer battle
To get the latest breaking news straight to your inbox, sign up to our free newsletter.
