Lucy is our inspiration
DIAGNOSED WITH TERMINAL CANCER BUT LUCY IS STILL SMILING AND INSPIRING
LUCY McElderry is fighting cancer at the young age of 24 and has been given the devastating news that it is terminal.
But despite that, she has a smile on her face and has been hailed as an inspiration for her strength and bravery.
And now thousands of pounds have been raised to help her family seek a private specialist and see if anything can be done to help her. Part of the money will go towards the Daft as a Brush charity that has supported Lucy.
Her mum Janet explained that Lucy was diagnosed with type 1 neurofibromatosis, a genetic condition, when she was five and it was found that a small tumour had developed in her left optic nerve. However, it was not cancerous and she had yearly scans to make sure it was not causing any problems.
But a couple of years ago she found a lump under her armpit and scans revealed a further lump on her neck. This was an aggressive tumour, which went on to affect her spinal cord.
Lucy had spinal surgery as well as intensive radiotherapy treatment. She also lost the use of her left arm. During this time, Daft as a Brush helped Lucy and provided transport to and from hospital appointments.
It then appeared Lucy’s condition was improving but earlier this year she was told the cancerous cells were showing activity again and it was effectively terminal.
Janet, 56, of West Denton Park, Newcastle, added: “They said no matter what chemotherapy they give her, it’s never going to get rid of this sarcoma. They can’t remove it because it is in a sensitive place. There’s no cure.”
Despite that, Lucy, who used to
As a mum, I don’t know how long I’ve got with my daughter, we don’t know how many years
work for Sainsbury’s, has been battling on courageously.
Janet, who has three other children, said: “She looks so positive - her smile has been on her face the whole time. She has never complained, she just gets on with everything. She’s a total inspiration for us and other people. She has always been that type of a person.
“As a mum, I don’t know how long I’ve got with my daughter, we don’t know how many years. But Lucy is our inspiration and she keeps us going. At the end of everything, she still has that smile.”
A group of Lucy’s friends set up a Gofundme page to support the family. They had a target of £1,000 but more than £6,000 has been donated so far.
Part of the money will be used to see a specialist and explore if anything can be done to help Lucy medically. The remaining cash will be given to Daft as a Brush.
“Lucy is totally overwhelmed by the fundraising,” said Janet. “We are overwhelmed as a family and so grateful.
“We are hoping to see a specialist in sarcomas. We don’t know if it’s going to help but we just can’t not do something else.
“And we want to give money to Daft as a Brush because they have been fantastic and helped Lucy so much.
“They would pick her up, take her to her appointments, wait for her and drop her back home. They have been a great support to us.”