14-year-old with leg ache that turned out to be most cancers was saved by her brother
Ruby Cheige, 14, returned dwelling from college in April 2022 with leg pain which her mum, Debra Cheige, 39, initially put right down to rising pains.
However, Debra nonetheless known as 111, who suggested her to take Ruby to A&E.
Ruby’s x-ray confirmed nothing regarding however she was saved off college the subsequent day simply to be on the secure facet.
Worryingly, that’s when she collapsed and was rushed straight again to the hospital.
During the go to, Ruby underwent a blood take a look at which revealed she had leukaemia, which describes cancer of the white blood cells.
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Debra, from Little Hulton, Manchester, mentioned: “I simply froze once we had been advised she had leukaemia.
“I used to be in a room filled with nurses, and so they advised me Ruby’s blood got here again, saying she had leukaemia – I used to be in a bubble I could not suppose.
“I had by no means thought this might occur to one in every of my children.”
According to the Leukaemia and Lymphoma Society, some leukaemia sufferers can expertise bone or joint pain.
This type of pain is “most often” felt in the long bones of the arms and legs, ribs and in the breastbone.
Following the diagnosis, Ruby stayed at the Manchester Children’s Hospital for chemotherapy and was an inpatient for four months until September 2022.
However, the treatment failed to eradicate all of the cancerous cells, leaving the 14-year-old in need of a bone marrow transplant.
This procedure is designed to replace the sick person’s bone marrow with healthy cells.
This is where Ruby’s brothers, Rio, 10, and Marley, three, stepped up and were both tested to see if they could donate.
Fortunately, Rio turned out to be a match and donated his bone marrow to Ruby on September 22, 2022.
Debra said: “I was over the moon that Rio could help but in the back of my mind, I was worried that Rio had to go through surgery too.
“Watching each of your kids get put to sleep – it is not good.
“I am super proud of Rio and super proud of Ruby for getting through it all.”
Rio said he was “keen to do everything” he could once he found out there was a chance he could help his sister.
Although Ruby’s body was fighting the donor cells at first, she is now in remission and her cancer has gone.
Rio, who is the “superhero” for his sister, added: “I’m so completely happy my sister Ruby is again dwelling and again to herself.”
Debra added that it’s “so nice” to see her daughter be a kid again. She said: “It took a huge toll on the family, and we are trying to get back to reality.
“I would not want this on my worst enemy – it has been hell.
“There was a chance I could have lost my daughter.
“We are all attempting to maneuver on from what occurred and get on with our day-to-day.”