Little Callie Shaw was rushed to hospital after a nursery worker saw a lump on her neck which was later diagnosed as cancer, sparking several rounds of chemotherapy
The life of a family was turned upside down when a nursery worker spotted something concerning on their infant daughter ’s neck- which led to a terminal diagnosis.
Callie Shaw, one, had just woken from a nap when a small lump was spotted on her neck under her ear. Mum Sarah was called straight away, and Callie was rushed to Wrexham Maelor Hospital. Little Callie was initially sent home by doctors as the lump was “nothing to be concerned about” but her concerned family returned to the hospital several times and she was eventually referred to Alder Hey Children’s Hospital for checks.
Following tests, Callie was diagnosed with a rhabdoid tumour – a rare, fast-growing cancer which mainly affects babies and young children. The tumour shrank after four rounds of chemotherapy but an MRI later showed the cancer had spread to her lungs.
Tragically, her family were told it was terminal and given a few weeks to live.
Callie’s aunt, Chakara Tudor, told the Liverpool Echo: “We were just heartbroken. We’d built up so much hope she was going to get better.
“It was all ripped away from us. We just didn’t expect it. We thought this operation would be it, she was going to be on the road to a full recovery.”
“All the way through this, all the way through chemotherapy, she’s been smiling all the way through, happy. She’s just such a happy, brave little girl.
“She lights up the room every time she comes in. You wouldn’t even think there was anything wrong with her. She’s just getting on with it.”
The family has launched a GoFundMe page to help make Callie’s remaining weeks as special as they can. The money raised will also be put towards funeral costs.
Chakara said: “She will have to spend her last few weeks in a hospice so we want to make sure she’s as comfortable as possible. No one should have to go through this, never mind a one-year-old child.
“Callie won’t only be leaving her mum behind, she’ll be leaving her brother, Kyran, who has been the best brother anyone could ask for. He absolutely adores her.”
The GoFundMe reads: “It’s a rare and very aggressive type of cancer and Callie has been given 4-6 weeks. She will have to spend her last few weeks in a hospice so she’s as comfortable as she can be.
“No one should have to endure this, never mind a one-year-old child. Callie will be leaving not only her mother behind but also her two-year-old brother who adores the bones off her.”