LITTLE NELL COULD BE PARALYSED BY TUMOUR ON HER SPINE

Family hope to send five-year-old to US for treatment on the painful growth which has already left her without the use of her left arm and relearning to walk

FIVE-YEAR-OLD Nell May Connick risks being permanently paralysed by the tumour growing inside her spinal cord. The painful growth has caused the youngster, from Glais, Swansea, to lose the use of her left arm, while she has been forced to learn how to walk again.

And the precarious position of the tumour has baffled doctors, who have ruled out using conventional treatments due to the dangers involved.

Now friends and family are rallying to raise money in order to send the brave little girl to the United States for specialist medical care. Nell experienced agonising pain in her neck after waking up one morning in June.

But it was not until she started having difficulty lifting her arms, and then suffered a fall, that she was given an MRI scan – which showed she had a large tumour growing within her spinal cord.

After weeks of treatment, tests and frequent visits to Cardiff’s University Hospital of Wales, Nell and her family – mum Emma, dad David and brother Charlie – are still waiting to hear what is best for the y youngster.

But it could be that the family a are forced to travel Stateside in order to get Nell the treatment she needs, which may not be a available in this country.

An amazing £12,000 has alr ready been raised online since Tuesday, in order to fund the family’s potential future costs for keen swimmer and ballet dancer Nell, who says she wants to be a cheerleader and gymn nast when she is older.

And a family friend is appeali ing for sponsorship, as he prep pares to walk the length of Wales, from Llandudno Pier to Mumbles Pier.

Speaking about her daughter, E Emma said: “At the minute she’s doing OK. She’s still having physio to try and get her to walk again and to use her left arm, which is completely dead.

“She’s on steroids so she’s eating and constantly hungry. But in herself she’s really good.”

The family hope to get more answers as to what happens next at the start of next week.

“We were in hospital for about three weeks in total and then we decided to bring her home. But we are still in limbo with her treatment,” Emma said.

She has been told that chemotherapy cannot be used for this type of tumour, while radiotherapy and proton beam therapy would both make the tumour swell before it shrinks.

In the position it is within her spinal cord, that means it is very difficult for either method to be used.

“Finding a surgeon or doctor who is confident in treating this is vital,” the 37-year-old added.

“We just want to find someone who can say they can do it. It’s a bit of a scary time.”

Emma, who works part-time in finance, says she has been bowled over by the amount of support received from friends, family and others who have donated online. More than £11,500 has been raised since Tuesday.

“It’s been absolutely mindblowing – it’s phenomenal,” she