A little girl who was given a four per cent chance of survival after being diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer has beaten it.
Young Isla Caton, 4, was diagnosed with stage four neuroblastoma in March 2017 and doctors said her chance of survival was slim to none.
However, after receiving a pioneering treatment in Barcelona – becoming the world’s first to do so – Isla is incredibly now cancer free.
PAThe four-year-old’s parents were intially told by doctors Isla had just months to live, but the young girl has defied all odds and has beaten the aggressive form of childhood cancer.
Speaking to news reporters in Spain, as per Southwark News, Isla’s mum Nikki said she was ‘literally bawling in the middle of the room’ when she received the news on Friday (March 1).
She said:
Everyone was looking at me like I was crazy. I still can’t quite believe it now. This is amazing, it’s amazing for all the other children too.
It’s been a hell of a long road, it’s been non-stop for Isla too, she’s never been off-treatment. [But] we’re hoping by July all the treatment will be over.
Thank you to every single person that follows @islasfight with Isla being in remission & cancer free this gives every single child fighting Neuroblastoma incredible hope. We still need to continue fundraising for a Vaccine & other future treatments. Love #Teamisla Thank you 🙏🙏 pic.twitter.com/rldjW1aUCx
— Isla Caton (@islasfight) March 1, 2019
The young girl was fourth on the list to receive the pioneering treatment at Sant Joan de Déu children’s hospital in Barcelona, the Metro reports, but was judged to be the fittest by doctors and so became the world’s first.
But the fight is not yet over for Isla, who although is now officially cancer free, still has to have two more chemo treatments, an antibody treatment, and a vaccine which will hopefully prevent the cancer from ever returning.
These crucial next stages mean that further fundraising is still needed, on top of the £400,000 that has already been spent on the little girl’s treatment.
Another brilliant video of Isla singing,🎙️Isla is currently having treatment in Barcelona for Neuroblastoma Cancer, please RT for awareness Love @islasfight #Teamisla 🙏❤️🙏 pic.twitter.com/gfD8R4G6dC
— Isla Caton (@islasfight) February 28, 2019
Mum Nikki explained:
We’ve still got about six months to go. People seem to think that because she’s in remission it’s all over but we’ve still got to fundraise to pay for the next two stages.
All together we’ve still got to raise about £350,000.
Speaking about those who have already donated and helped in Isla’s journey, the family expressed how truly grateful they were, saying they saved their little girl’s life.
Football fans and players from West Ham and Millwall put their rivalry aside for Isla and united to help raise the £500,000 needed to fund the treatment.
Please look out for people @WestHamUtd v @NUFC today collecting for @islasfight #teamisla 🙏 Thank you ⚒️ #Westhamfamily pic.twitter.com/BxNkXyqef5
— Isla Caton (@islasfight) March 2, 2019
The family from Stratford hope that after the next six months of treatment they will finally see Isla enjoying a normal childhood.
This is brilliant news and our thoughts are with Isla and her family as she continues on her journey.
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A Broadcast Journalism Masters graduate who went on to achieve an NCTJ level 3 Diploma in Journalism, Lucy has done stints at ITV, BBC Inside Out and Key 103. While working as a journalist for UNILAD, Lucy has reported on breaking news stories while also writing features about mental health, cervical screening awareness, and Little Mix (who she is unapologetically obsessed with).