‘MY HEART WAS BROKEN INTO A THOUSAND PIECES’

Desperate struggle to help little Eliza survive cancer

THE heartbroken parents of a two-year-old with a rare and aggressive form of childhood cancer are desperately trying to raise £60,000 for life-saving treatment in Germany.

Little Eliza Donnelly, from Cilgwyn in Newport, Pembrokeshire, was diagnosed with stage four neuroblastoma in July.

The cancer, which only affects about 100 children a year in the UK, was discovered in a large tumour in Eliza’s abdomen, and has since spread to her lymph nodes and bones.

Eliza’s parents, Robin and Maya, were left distraught, and threw themselves into researching different therapies which could potentially give their daughter the best chances of survival.

“When we first came in to hospital she was in a serious condition and in severe pain, arching her back to stop the tumour pushing against her organs, it was horrific,” Eliza’s father, Robin, said.

“My heart was broken into a thousand pieces and I spent the first few weeks desperately trying to make a plan to fix Eliza in between completely falling apart.”

While Eliza is currently respond-respond ing to an intense programme of chemotherapy, her parents say the outlook on her condition is still unclear.

Specialists told Robin and Maya about a clinic in Germany that can offer their daughter a three-week, post-chemo immune-building treatment to give her a better chance of recovery.

“The more I researched the more I came to realise that even cancer as advanced as this can be treated,” Robin said.

“Her young age is on her side, and if we can give her a helping hand at every stage of her treatment she has a better chance of surviving.”

The complementary treatment includes travel to the renowned Hufeland Clinic, in Germany, for an immune system rebuild, plus a tailored plan of dietary supplements and food, some of which have to be imported from the US.

But with the treatment costing more than £60,000, Robin and Maya, along with a nu number of rela- tives and friends, have been forced d to launch a fundraising campaignn to try to cover the costs.

They set up a Just Giving page,e, which raised close to £8,000 from more than 250 supporters within 48 hours.

“The battle is by no means won n and we have a long road ahead,”” Robin said.

“This cancer is extremely diffi- cult to clear and relapses are com- mon, at which point we may have e to seek more intensive chemother- apy and immunotherapy outside e the UK.

“But we have hope, and are so o grateful for the support received so o far.

“Eliza has developed a great t sense of humour, she’s happy and d laughing as she has not done for r many months. We want to do eve- rything we can to give her the bestt chance.

“With this treatment, the chemo o and Eliza’s positive character, she e has made huge strides forward. . The battle is not won, but we feell we are on the right track.”

You can donate to Eliza’s s cause by visiting https://www. . justgiving.com/crowdfunding/ / Help-Elizap