The parents of five-year-old Isla-Mae Dunn have left behind their beloved pub in Nottinghamshire after revealing it is "not yet the end" of her journey with acute blood cancer. However, little Isla-Mae finished her 'intense' chemotherapy on September 2, marking progress towards recovery.
She had been suffering with a temperature and breathing difficulties in 2020 and numerous video consultations and a visit from paramedics only led to the conclusion she likely had tonsillitis. But after developing a rash and bruises over her body a few months later she was then diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in May the same year.
Father Reece Dunn said there were numerous occasions they were told she may not make it, with himself and wife Laura even planning her funeral at one fraught stage in her journey.
Despite this she has pulled through, having even battled a Covid infection in October last year, and at the beginning of September she finished her last session of chemotherapy at the Queen's Medical Centre. Mr Dunn said: "She has a lumbar puncture every four weeks and they thought they found something in her blood then, and they sat us down and said if it is what we think it is, it is brain cancer.
"After a few weeks of anticipation in June and July it came back and it was a little infection. The bell-ringing happened which is great but we are still on edge.
"Going forward they are going to keep an eye on her and she is going to keep having blood tests until they think it is enough.
"At the moment she is going in and having regular check-ups for the next six months, and they review it, and she will get on to every six months to every year over a five-year period. It is not the end.
"But the intense treatment has come to an end. We just have to wait and see."
Mr Dunn, 34, had been working as the general manager at the popular Shepherd's Rest pub in Bagthorpe. He and his 31-year-old wife are now renting a home, having left behind the pub in favour of a much-needed rest despite the worries arising from the cost of living crisis.
"We left the pub in June," he added. "We felt we needed to take a step back. We are looking to stay in the pub trade but just for now I need to take a step back.
"I do not know how we have done it but we did it and pulled together."
Mr Dunn also made a plea to anyone who may know singer George Ezra, who is Isla-Mae's favourite artist, because she would like to meet him. Her favourite song, he adds, is Gold Rush Kid.
The very fitting song lyrics are as follows: "I went to see the doctor, she cut open my head. Took a look inside and this is what she said...
"Boy, you're not alone, although you feel alone. You're just like everyone. You're holding on."
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