Brave little Chloe beats rare cancer
AN ‘ever-smiling’ youngster who has spent almost half of her life battling a rare form of cancer is celebrating after ringing the end-of-treatment bell.
Chloe Mullan, six, captured the hearts of the public - including Observer readers - and their kind donations have helped support her and her family ever since she was diagnosed two days after Christmas 2017.
After two hard years of participating in a clinical trial down in three London hospitals, the St Oswald’s RC Primary pupil has now finished treatment. She rang the bell at the Royal Marsden Hospital accompanied by proud dad Martin Mullan, after defeating JXG, which affects only one in every 10 million children.
Chloe’s mum Sarah Broad, of Wordsworth Road, Accrington, said the whole family were so grateful to medics and fundraisers who have enabled her full recovery over the past three years.
In June 2018 we reported that an ‘overwhelming’ donation of £1,200 from Good Samaritan Mark Clarkson had taken the family beyond their target to fund recuperating trips for Chloe, including Scarborough and Pontins.
Local embroidery firm Stitch-It Ltd even made her a hoodie and a teddy as an end of treatment present.
Sarah, 33, said: “If it wasn’t for the love and support from everybody supporting Chloe, and businesses donating money and everything we wouldn’t have done it. We set up a gofundme page which we absolutely smashed.
“For that we cannot thank people enough. In London we have met beautiful people, and we cannot be more proud of her.
“She’s absolutely fantastic, always smiling and she always takes everything in her stride.”
Part of the treatment included being fitted with a Hickman line and one of the hardest parts was she had to fast before and after medication.
Sarah revealed that Chloe had wanted to observe what was going on at every stage of her treatment.
“Normally with kids going to hospital you distract them from the treatment,” said Sarah. “But she is not like that and wants to watch what you are doing. She always knows what’s going on. When she was going for an MRI [scan] she was having a laugh with the staff!”
Chloe, who enjoys dancing, music, and YouTube, has got a younger brother Lucas and an older sister Caitlyn. Sarah and Chloe’s dad Martin accompanying her on her alternating trips to the capital.
Sarah added: “Ringing the bell you can see that she is shy and very emotional, and blown away with it. She knows there’s no more medicine now. Although I think she is a bit upset she is not going to London anymore, because that’s been a big part of her life.
“The doctors and nurses have been absolutely fantastic. We couldn’t be more grateful.”