Our sporty 11-year-old's ‘growing pains' were the first sign of horrifying diagnosis that's blown our lives apart

The Irish Sun

15-07-2025

ISABELLE Vella was a carefree, adventurous 11-year-old girl who loved triathlons and spending time with friends.
Her parents were devastated to discover her 'growing pains' were the first sign the family's normal life was about to fall apart.
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Isabelle Vella (pictured) once enjoyed partaking in triathlon events
Credit: Gofundme
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In April she was diagnosed with osteochondroma, a rare bone cancer
Credit: Gofundme
Isabelle was diagnosed with osteochondroma, a rare bone cancer.
'We just couldn't believe it,' her dad, Al Vella, said. 'My wife collapsed at the hospital.'
"The ironic thing is, before the appointment she asked, 'Is it cancer?' and we told her not to be so ridiculous," the dad told
Isabelle, from Cambridge, started complaining of
Read more on bone cancer
Suspected to be either
But after she began limping, a GP visit led to an X-ray and then a cancer diagnosis.
Osteochondroma affects up to 35 children a year in the UK and usually begins at the ends of long bones, where new bone grows during childhood.
Isabelle is now in her second round of chemotherapy and faces lifechanging surgery in August.
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Doctors will either amputate her leg or try to save it using bone grafts or metal implants.
Despite everything, Isabelle has stayed upbeat.
Childhood cancer explained
Just a week after her diagnosis, she sat her Grade 3 drumming exam and passed with Merit.
'She won't be able to do triathlons or contact sports anymore,' said her dad, Al Vella.
"[But] I have no doubt that she'll find a wheelchair sport in the future, maybe even go towards something like the Paralympics."
Her treatment has been gruelling, leaving her with a feeding tube and
"She has a massive zest for life but what has been taken away from her has completely destroyed us," he added.
"We have no option but to carry on and be strong for her."
'Devastating'
Mum Faye Vella said watching her daughter go through treatment has been "totally heartbreaking."
"It was such a shock to see how poorly the chemo made her," the mum said.
"It is devastating seeing your lovely child confined to her bed and not even be able to talk because they feel so ill," she added.
With Isabelle's ongoing recovery set to take several years,
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The cancer treatments could involve removing the sporty tween's leg
Credit: Gofundme
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Despite the pain, she still laughs and smiles. her mum Faye Vella, says
Credit: Gofundme
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'If your child has any aches or pains, don't ignore it,' Isabelle's father, Al Vella, said
Credit: Gofundme
They said it will help contribute towards specialist therapies, possible prosthetics, wheelchairs, equipment and even the high likelihood that they will need to adapt their home.
Faye praised the staff at Addenbrooke's Hospital who have helped them through.
"The staff literally picked me up the floor and looked after us both," she said.
She calls her cancer Voldemort
Faye said she initially "naively" thought the pain was something minor, but now draws her strength from Isabelle.
"She's one of a kind," the mum said. "She's scared, but she knows she has to get through this."
The tween chooses not to use the word cancer, calling it Voldemort, a nod to Harry Potter. instead.
"Despite the pain she's in, she is just so joyful and happy and manages to laugh and smile at things," Faye said..
Al, who had never heard of osteochondroma before Isabelle's diagnosis, is urging parents to trust their instincts if something feels wrong with their child.
"My advice to others would be if you have any concerns, get it seen to," he said.
"Any aches or pains with your kids, you just never know what it really could be.
"Keep pursuing, if you think something could be wrong, don't give up in getting an answer.
"We never could have imagined this could have been the outcome and are so glad we got it checked when we did'".
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The family are raising money to contribute towards specialist therapies
Credit: Gofundme
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Isabelle chooses not to use the word cancer, calling it Voldemort instead.
Credit: Gofundme
Red flag symptoms of bone cancers
Osteosarcoma is the most common type of bone cancer in children.
Osteosarcoma is the most common type of bone cancer in children.
Tumours can appear in any bone in the body, but they mostly occur in the bones on either side of the knee and in the upper arm.
It mainly affects children and young adults under the age of 25 and has a survival rate of 65 per cent, according to
Ewing sarcoma is the second most common type of bone cancer in children that mainly affects legs, pelvis, arms and ribs.
Children suffering from osteosarcoma or Ewing's sarcoma may experience:
Bone pain – this may come and go initially but then become more persistent
Tenderness
Redness
Swelling
Fracture may occur after a minor injury at the site of the weakened bone
According to CCLG, pain tends to be the most common symptom of bone cancer and this will often be worse at night.
There may also be some swelling in the affected area if the tumour is close to the surface of the body and it may become tender to touch.