The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
‘I want to show that cancer has not stopped me’, says Katie
Fife girl who underwent pioneering surgery chosen to launch cancer fundraiser
A brave young Fife footballer who lost most of her leg to cancer is tackling life head on.
Katie Pake, who endured pioneering surgery to help her walk again, has enjoyed an emotional reunion with her Raith Rovers Ladies and Girls FC team-mates. The 10-year-old defender also met Rovers stars Iain Davidson and Kyle Benedictus.
The Coaltown of Balgonie youngster has set her sights on a new goal: becoming match fit so she can get back on the pitch for good.
She has also been chosen to launch Stand Up To Cancer in Scotland, the joint Cancer Research UK and Channel 4 star-studded fundraiser.
“I love sport and was really sad when I couldn’t play football after I got cancer,” she said. “It feels so great to come back to see everyone and has made me even more determined to work hard so I can get back into all the sports I love.
“I don’t mind when people look at my foot. I want to show that cancer has not stopped me.”
In support, her playing pals are wearing bright orange to encourage Scots to raise funds.
Girls team coach Christian Murray said: “We’re proud to swap our team colour and show our support for Stand Up To Cancer by dressing up in orange in honour of Katie.”
Parents Carol and Grant and brother Cameron were devastated when Katie, who had a painful knee, was diagnosed with bone cancer osteosarcoma in her right shin in June 2017.
Medics were initially hopeful they could save her leg but tests revealed the cancer had spread to her spine and hips. That was gone by Christmas and in February, two days before her 10th birthday, she became the first patient at Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Edinburgh to have an eight-hour rotationplasty operation.
Doctors, who removed the middle section of Katie’s right leg, reattached her foot and ankle to her thigh, back to front, to create a new knee joint. This made it easier for Katie to wear a prosthetic limb.
Before the eight-hour operation, she asked for “please recycle” to be written on the section of leg being removed so the tissue was donated to medical research.
Katie was fitted with her first prosthetic leg last month and is having regular physiotherapy. Proud Carol said: “Katie wants to be a champion for all children affected by cancer.”
Visit standuptocancer.org.uk to get involved.
It feels so great to come back to see everyone and has made me even more determined to work hard so I can get back into all the sports I love