SCHOOLGIRL’S TREATMENT A RINGING SUCCESS
MORVEN Weir and her family received the shattering news that she was suffering from a rare form of cancer four days before Christmas.
A little more than six months later, the 11-year-old has stunned medics by getting to ring a bell that signals she is clear of the disease.
The emotional moment at the Royal Hospital for Children in Glasgow was watched by those who supported her through her journey at the Schiehallion oncology ward, including friends, nurses and her proud family.
Dad Iain said: “It was quite a crowd and there were a lot of hugs. It was very emotional.
“When your child is diagnosed with cancer, there’s so much you don’t know and it’s so scary.
“When I look back at what’s happened over just a few months, I can’t quite believe it.”
In November, Morven, from Airdrie, noticed the left side of her neck was swollen and two small lumps had appeared.
Her GP suspected a build-up of calcium and suggested sucking on lemons to ease the swelling.
When this had no effect, Morven was taken to Monklands Hospital, where a biopsy was carried out. The results showed she was suffering from a rare strain of Hodgkin lymphoma.
Iain, 48, said: “Not once did we think it would be cancer.
“The doctors were unsure how to treat it at first as they didn’t have any experience of it.”
Further scans revealed Morven had been suffering from cancer for some time. It had started in her chest before spreading to her neck and stomach.
The location of the lumps in Morven’s neck meant they could not be operated on and chemotherapy was the only option.
When her treatment started, the schoolgirl took each day in her stride – even when her hair started to fall out.
Iain said: “It was
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