Anna’s birthday wish comes true
BRAVE Anna Drysdale has celebrated her ninth birthday in style – despite being in lockdown in New York.
The youngster has been in the US since the start of the year undergoing gruelling immunotherapy after a mystery Sunday Express reader stepped forward to fund her treatment.
The pandemic has meant the youngster is in isolation in the city, but friends and family from around the globe rallied to make it one of her most memorable birthdays ever.
Mother Keeley said: “We were really thinking about what we could do. But we don’t leave the apartment, other than for hospital appointments, so there’s only so much we could do.
“But actually it turned into such a nice day. Friends made a video as a surprise and it featured friends and family from all over the UK, leaving messages for Anna. It was just so lovely.
“Anna loved it and watched over and over and over. It also featured a message from Sarah, our eldest daughter who is still in the UK and whom we haven’t been able to see since the start of March.
“That was really emotional. We are missing her so much.
“The birthday was a bit emotional for me. I kept thinking, she’s still little and been through so much, it breaks my heart.
“But I couldn’t be more proud of her. She is still battling on.”
Anna is on round four out of a possible five immunotherapy treatments, and doctors at the world-renowned MSK Hospital in New York say they have been astounded by her strength.
Keeley said: “When we arrived we were told Anna may need a more lengthy period of recovery between cycles of immunotherapy, as it is really quite painful and takes quite a toll.
“But her body has so far bounced back every time, and if it carries on doing that we may well be finished by the summer. We are hoping it carries on with the positive news.”
The family had fears the vital treatment would stall due to the Covid-19 crisis, which has hit New York particularly hard.
Keeley said: “In between treatment, Anna has to have bloods taken and it was these labs which were temporarily shut.
“We were warned that without these bloods, which check Anna is ready to go again, treatment would be stopped.
“After the last round they took Anna’s bloods and froze them, ready for when the labs would reopen, and last week they were able to get in for a day of testing, and Anna’s made it in, so we are underway for the fourth cycle. We have been really lucky there has been no stopping her treatment. In the lead-up to the immunotherapy, Anna has to have injections daily, and to stop us having to go to hospital they taught me how to do them.
“It hurts her, and we both find it really difficult. I feel awful doing it to her. But we’ve made it.
“Anna’s having to have regular coronavirus tests up the nose, which she hates as much – if not more – than the actual treatment.
“That has been a real battle. I even had to inject her on her birthday and it made her cry so I felt bad, but otherwise she had a wonderful day.
‘We had loads of calls at different points to family and friends. Everyone we rang had decorated their homes and got cakes in and were listening to the same music as us so we had one massive virtual party all day.
“Anna loved it and we made it the best we could for her.”
‘We had a massive virtual party with family and friends’