When Ruby Chiege came home from school one afternoon in agony, her mum Debra assumed it was just growing pains. But just 24 hours later, their lives were thrown into turmoil – ultimately leading one family member to make a great sacrifice.
It was April 20 when Ruby began complaining of pain in her legs. When paracetamol failed to relieve her discomfort, Debra dialled 111 and was advised to take her to A&E.
On arrival at hospital, Ruby had X-rays taken which appeared to show nothing of concern. The 13-year-old, who lives in Little Hulton , was told to go home and continue taking painkillers.
The Lowry Academy pupil was kept off school the following day as the pain persisted. When the teenager fainted in her room later that evening, Debra knew something was seriously wrong.
The family returned to hospital where Ruby was given blood tests. Single mum-of-four Debra was on her own when she was taken into a private room. Ruby's results were back – she had leukaemia.
“There was a long wait for an ambulance so her grandma took us back to hospital,” Debra, 38, told the Manchester Evening News .
“They did bloods and that’s when we found out it was leukaemia. They said they needed a second opinion and were going to send us to Manchester Children’s Hospital.
“I had heard of leukaemia, but I had never read up on it. I said, ‘What’s leukaemia? You’ve got the wrong child here’. I just sank. Whatever they said to me wasn’t sinking in. I just couldn’t lose my daughter – cancer is cancer. The big C.”
Ruby remained in hospital for chemotherapy treatment for four months before being allowed home last week. Sadly, the chemotherapy has not destroyed all of the leukaemia cells and the cancer still remains.
Doctors now hope a bone marrow transplant can treat her leukaemia. While some with the illness would have to wait for a matching donor, Ruby won’t need to. Her nine-year-old brother Rio has stepped up to help save her life.
“We sat him down and said, ‘Ruby needs this and you’re a match,’” support worker Debra continued. “He said he wanted to do it, he wanted to be a superhero for his sister. The bone marrow transplant started on September 22.
"It’s turned our lives upside down. I have three other kids at home and I haven’t seen much of them over the period of what Ruby has been going through. I’m on sick leave at work and I have bills and all sorts catching up.
“Because she’s 13 I thought it could have been normal growing pains because she’s tall. I never thought that three months down the line she would be suffering from leukaemia.”
Debra has also chosen to have one of Ruby’s ovaries frozen as her cancer treatment may have affected her fertility. “She has to have one of her ovaries frozen; it’s being sent to Oxford because the next round of chemotherapy will destroy her ovaries. When she’s old enough, it’s there if she wants children," the mum added.
A fundraiser has now been set up to help Debra, Ruby, Rio, Marley and Morgan through this difficult time. It’s hoped the cash can help support the family through the cost of living crisis while Debra is out of work. To donate, follow the link by clicking here .
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