Heartbreak as 'happy and brave' baby girl from North Wales given weeks to live
The family of a baby girl from North Wales have told of the harrowing moment their lives were upended following a call from their daughter's nursery. One-year-old Callie Shaw had just woken from her nap when a nursery worker noticed a small lump on her neck beneath her ear.
Her mother, Sarah, was immediately informed, leading to Callie being rushed to Wrexham Maelor Hospital. Initially, doctors at the hospital sent Callie home, believing that the lump was "nothing to be concerned about".
However, feeling unconvinced, Callie's family made several return visits to the hospital, which resulted in her being referred to Alder Hey Children's Hospital. Subsequent tests led to Callie's diagnosis with a rhabdoid tumour – a rare and aggressive cancer predominantly affecting infants and young children – back in January when she was just 10 months old.
Following a four-month course of chemotherapy, there was a glimmer of hope as the tumour started to shrink, and the family began to believe that Callie might beat the cancer. But a subsequent MRI scan revealed that her body was no longer responding to the treatment, and the cancer had metastasised to her lungs, reports the Liverpool Echo.
It was then the family, who live in Wrexham, were given the devastating news the cancer was terminal, and little Callie was given a prognosis of just four to six weeks.
Callie's auntie, Chakara Tudor, told the ECHO: "We were just heartbroken. We'd built up so much hope that she was going to get better. It was all ripped away from us. We just didn't expect it. We thought this operation would be it, she was going to be on the road to a full recovery."
Despite her illness, Chakara said Callie has never stopped smiling. She said: "All the way through this, all the way through chemotherapy, she's been smiling all the way through, happy.
"She's just such a happy, brave little girl. She lights up the room every time she comes in. You wouldn't even think there was anything wrong with her. She's just getting on with it."
The family has launched a GoFundMe page to help make Callie's remaining weeks as special as they can. The money raised will also be put towards funeral costs.
Chakara said: "She will have to spend her last few weeks in a hospice so we want to make sure she's as comfortable as possible. No one should have to go through this, never mind a one-year-old child.
"Callie won't only be leaving her mum behind, she'll be leaving her brother, Kyran, who has been the best brother anyone could ask for. He absolutely adores her."
Callie - who turned one in March - spent her birthday in Alder Hey and so her family were unable to celebrate. They have organised a party for her at Gresford Memorial Hall in Wrexham on Sunday, May 25. It is an open event for anyone who wants to show their support.
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