A COUPLE have spoken of their gratitude for the overwhelming generosity and support shown by a community who have rallied behind them after their three-year-old daughter was diagnosed with a rare cancer.
Daisy-Lillie Fail’s parents spoke as she prepares to become one of the youngest NHS patients to be given revolutionary proton beam therapy in the UK.
Andrew and Lynne Fail of Consett, County Durham, had initially been expecting to travel to Florida, in the US, so their daughter could undergo targetted lifesaving radiation treatment on her tumour.
But specialists told them she can have treatment in Manchester, once she has completed more rounds of chemotherapy and surgery to remove as much of the tumour as possible.
Mr Fail, a car production worker, said: “It was last November we found out she had a large tumour in her pelvis, which was diagnosed as rhabdomyosarcoma - a soft tissue sarcoma suffered by fewer than 60 children each year.
“She had been experiencing chronic constipation for a week and our local doctors were very quick in sending her to the University of North Durham, where they did a scan and found she had a tumour.
“Then it was straight to the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle. It came out of the blue. She showed no signs of illness. The night before she was running through the hours like a normal three-year-old.”
Mrs Fail, who works for prescription services at the NHS, said : “It was heartbreaking to hear the news. It was an absolute shock. ”
“We were told it was a very aggressive tumour. She starts her fifth round of chemotherapy on Wednesday. She has been responding quite well and the tumour has shrunk quite bit.
“Staff at the RVI have been absolutely amazing. They have been positive, reassuring and calming.”
She added: “Initially, we it told the NHS would fund us to fly to Jacksonville in the US for the treatment. We would have gone but it would have meant taking our older daughter, Scarlett out of school.”
The couple then got word to say she had been granted the proton beam treatment at the new £125million centre at The Christie Hospital in Manchester in March.
Mr Fail said: “Proton beam therapy has been shown to work on the type of tumour Daisy has, getting rid of it altogether. We have been told nothing negative.
“The treatment which can take up to six week is fully funded by the NHS. The initial transport is paid for but we have to cover the costs of anything more and living expenses.”
The family have never set out to actively fundraise themselves.
Mr Fail said: “People have approached us wanting to help. The local community have been so generous – even strangers.”
A Just Giving site was closed after hitting its £5,000 target, with a further one has been opened in her name.
Any money raised for Daisy will be placed in a trust fund for the future.
Mr Fail said Andrew Greener, who owns Jumbo Jungle and Ultimate Bounce Zone, in Consett, had offered the use of his facilities, from 5pm to 7pm on Friday, March 1. He will not be charging entrance, but will ask for donations with all proceeds going to support Daisy and her family.
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