Mum praises ‘loving’ team who gave ‘lifesaving’ care to daughter with rare cancer
Little Grace was just two when she diagnosed with a rare form of cancer and treated at St George’s Hospital by a “loving” team..
Now aged four, she’s finished her treatment – with her family praising the “lifesaving” care she received.
Her mum, Fatimo Abdulkadir-Martins, said: “The care Grace got at St George’s was the best. They made everyone feel at home and they treated everyone equally.
“St George’s saved Grace’s life and showed us so much love.”
Fatimo explained that she first suspected something was wrong with Grace when her tummy began to swell, she was constantly hungry and said she was in pain.
When Grace caught a cold that was still there three weeks later Fatimo took her to see their GP who checked her tummy and felt a ”mass”.
Fatimo said: “At first we didn’t realise the symptoms were serious but after she was rushed to A&E they ran tests and told me it was cancer.”
Grace was diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma, which is so rare just 55 children are diagnosed each year in the UK – most under the age of 10.
In a cruel twist, Grace’s diagnosis in February 2022 came after a family member had successfully battled cancer twice.
Fatimo said: “When I was told the news I thought, ‘Not again’. Grace was a blessing to me and this shows cancer really doesn’t discriminate – anyone can get it.”
Grace had nine cycles of chemotherapy in six months combined with six weeks of radiotherapy before her treatment came to an end.
Fatimo said: “It was very stressful but my faith and other people around me really helped.”
Grace had a four-month stay at St George’s before being transferred to Royal Marsden – which jointly provides children’s cancer care – to continue her treatment, which finished in November.
In most rhabdomyosarcoma cases the patient will need check-ups for 10 years but due to Grace’s family’s medical history this will be extended.
Grace is now at nursery and any surgical treatment she needs in the future will be done at St George’s.
Giving advice to the parents or carers of children with cancer, Fatimo said: “Be positive and believe your child can fight it.”
