Galway girl the picture of health after winning battle with rare cancer

With her fabulous head of tumbling curls, it is hard to believe that Grace Kenneally was diagnosed with an aggressive childhood cancer three years ago this month. The eight-year-old from Tirellan Heights in the city has returned to school, starting in Third Class at Gaelscoil Dara in Renmore, looking the picture of health.

Having recently mastered the bike and now a dab hand at swimming, she is also enjoying camogie and jumping on a trampoline, all normal childhood activities she can participate in since her medical tubes were removed.

But inside there still exists a small tumour on her aorta, which persists despite two rounds of chemotherapy, radiotherapy, cis-retinoic acid and a host of anti-sickness drugs all designed to kill the disease.

Grace was first sent home after just starting Senior Infants in 2010. A week later on September 9 she was diagnosed with Stage 3 Neuroblastoma.

Because of the location of the tumour on the main blood vessel in the body and its size, her medical team have so far ruled out surgery to remove it.

Every couple of months medics at the children’s hospital in Crumlin monitor the tumour with ultrasound and CT scans.

The family had a fright in April when it looked millimetres bigger, but in June it appeared to be the same size. The next appointment is now in October.

There is no room for complacency after she had a relapse following the first round of aggressive treatment when first diagnosed.

“We have complete uncertainty. We’re always on tender hooks. At least if she was in remission you’d have some hope. I have heard of cases where it doesn’t grow, it just stays the same, it remained inactive,” explained her mother Ethna Kenneally.

“We’re hoping this is what happens to Grace. As long as it doesn’t grow and kill her.”

September is childhood cancer awareness month. A group of parents using St John’s Ward in Crumlin Hospital, the only paediatric oncology ward in the country, have set up a campaign, Light It Up Gold, to raise awareness about the 200 children diagnosed in Ireland each year.

For full story, see this week’s Connacht Tribune.