‘Hope had her first school play... and I don’t think there was a dry eye... she was so full of energy’
HOW LITTLE HOPE-LOUISE DEFIED ALL THE ODDS
BRAVE cancer battler Hope-Louise Feeney defied the odds after being diagnosed with neuroblastoma.
The North Shields youngster spent her toddler years in and out of hospital being treated for tumours that were found all over her body, including her spine, liver, lungs, stomach, legs, shoulder and pelvis.
Hope underwent several rounds of chemotherapy and an operation to remove the adrenal gland, but her family was dealt another blow when doctors said they’d found more cancer.
Doctors reduced her chances of survival from 50% to 20%.
But in November last year, her family was given the news they’d been waiting for - Hope’s bone marrow treatment would be ending and what cancer was left in her body was dormant.
The six-year-old and her family have been getting back to “normal life” with the youngster starting school, making friends and preparing for a trip to Disneyland.
Full-time mum Kelly said: “It is so surreal. It is absolutely amazing.
“Hope had her first school play and, oh my God, I don’t think there was a dry eye.
“She was dancing and so full of energy – beautiful energy.
“It was something we never thought we would see – that milestone.” Having spent most of her time surrounded by adults in hospital, Hope is now starting to make friends at school, receiving her first invite to a birthday party.
“My heart was swelling with a massive mix of emotions,” the 32-year-old said. “She was so proud of herself, coming home and saying ‘Mum, look what I have got’ and she said it was at a salon so she could get her hair done too.”
In June, Hope will have a dream come true when she heads to Disneyland Paris with her dad, Dale Walt, 30, and her sisters, Naomi, 14, Brogan, 11, and brother, Lee, nine, which will be their first holiday together.
Kelly said: “She is looking forward to seeing her favourite Cinderella princess.
“This is something that is going to make memories – it is going to be a once in a lifetime experience for all of the kids.
“There were so many times they
There were so many times we thought we’d lost Hope herself, but we never lost hope itself. Kelly Feeney
would wake up in the middle of the night and mum and Hope would be gone. They’d be wondering when we’d be coming home.
“There were so many times we thought we’d lost Hope herself, but we never lost hope itself.”
Kelly said even small things like Hope knocking to play with her neighbours, or playing outside, were massive milestones.
“Doing her first swimming lesson, playing in the park, doing hopscotch, climbing – I’m just bursting,” Kelly said.
But as they continue with normal life, Kelly said the fear the cancer will return is always at the back of their minds.
Neuroblastoma, which claimed the life of young Bradley Lowery, has a high rate of relapse, as much as 80% in some cases. The family is continuing to raise funds in case the cancer returns and Hope needs to get treatment abroad.
Kelly said: “I’m absolutely petrified. It is still sitting in her so it might wake itself back up, so we still want to raise funds for treatment.
“If she needs to go to Germany, or America or wherever it will allow her to access treatment.”
On June 3, Hope and her family will be heading the Bradley Lowery Shield charity football tournament, which was inspired by Bradley and his love of football.
The event aims to keep the youngster’s memory alive and raise awareness of neuroblastoma, and this year the money raised will be donated to the Bradley Lowery Foundation which is supporting Hope’s fundraising appeal.
Organised by the CancerHasNoColours team, entries are now open for the tournament, which will take place a the Silksworth Sports Complex from 2pm.
As well as the competition, there will be a presentation evening that will include DJ, singer Lloyd Joyce, and a raffle which will include a mini UK break donated by Hays Travel.
The presentation evening will take place immediately after the final whistle at The Barnes Hotel, Sunderland and is open all players and supporters.
Anyone who would like to enter or donate to the cause can email team@cancerhasnocolours.co.uk