Western Daily Press (Saturday)
Bell marks end of tot’s treatment for cancer
AFAMILY and nurses chanted ‘no more chemo’ as a two-yearold rang an end-of-cancer treatment bell.
Isla Ackroyd was all smiles as she rang the small bell after battling cancer for more than half her life.
Isla, of Highbridge, Somerset, was diagnosed with a brain tumour at only eight months old.
The smiley youngster has finally celebrated the end of more than a year of treatments at Musgrove Park Hospital in Taunton.
The little fighter is now in remission and mum Carly Ackroyd said: “Ringing the bell was something that we longed for. Isla was diagnosed with a brain tumour at eight months old and she finally rang the bell as a two-year-old with a big smile on her face.
“It was really important for our sixyear-old son too because it meant no more treatment for his baby sister and we wouldn’t have to live in hospital away from him anymore.
“It was the best day of my life and I felt so proud of them both. I will forever be grateful to everyone involved and making that day happen.”
Despite coronavirus restrictions preventing children from ringing the bell on the hospital ward, cancer charity CLIC Sargent, provided tiny Isla with a ‘celebration box’ containing a bell which Musgrove Park Hospital staff delivered to her Highbridge home.
Alongside the bell, the box contained gifts including fairy lights, balloons, glow sticks, messages from all the team involved in their care, a special ‘bead of courage’ and a certificate to make the day really special.
Paediatric oncology outreach nurse Olivia Lines said: “Traditionally, at the end of treatment, the children would ring the big bell on the ward, so we said that we would bring it out to them.
“It’s just something for them to keep and something to remember that day by because it’s such a massive journey for them to go through.”
Lin Snell, CLIC Sargent social worker, said: “It’s important for children and young people who have come through, sometimes, years of treatment to mark this milestone.
“Olivia and I thought that if they can’t celebrate it in hospital, then it’s our responsibility to enable to them to celebrate it at home.”
Isla’s mum Carly added: “We are so grateful for all the support from CLIC Sargent. We would have been lost without them.”