At her second birthday party, Ruby happily enjoyed all the excitement and atmosphere. For Ruby’s parents, Victoria and Rob, and her big brother Freddy this was a special day creating family memories.
Not long after Ruby’s birthday party, Victoria and Rob were aware that their daughter’s behaviour had changed. “Ruby became quiet and withdrawn” explains Victoria “Ruby started to refuse food - she was in famous for her huge appetite!”
Other vague symptoms included a wheezy chest. Ruby began a course of prescribed allergy medication and this seemed to help, but her appetite was not improving.
Ruby’s hardworking parents were enjoying a rare weekend away when they received a telephone call from Ruby’s anxious Grandparents. The localpharmacist had seen Ruby and thought she looked jaundiced.
“Ruby was clingy, unhappy and vomiting,” says Victoria. They immediately returned home and took their daughter to the local Accident and Emergency department. By this point Ruby had stopped eating completely. She lost so much weight that a worrying growth in her stomach became visible.
Ruby was quickly transferred to St. George’s hospital where a tumour biopsy was the first planned surgical procedure for Ruby. Her blood pressure was so high that the medical team considered it too dangerous to go ahead. Only when Ruby’s blood pressure was under control did the biopsy take place - the results of which left Ruby’s parents shocked and devastated.
Their 2 year old daughter Ruby had stage 4, high risk neuroblastoma – an aggressive childhood cancer. Victoria says, “When we found out about Ruby's diagnosis we were in complete shock, it all seemed surreal (and still does) and we were absolutely devastated. We couldn't believe this was happening to our little Ruby.”
As with more than half of children diagnosed with neuroblastoma,the cancer had spread throughout Ruby’s body by the time she was diagnosed,making her condition one of the most difficult kinds of childhood cancer to treat.
“Ruby had a large tumour in her abdomen going up her spine and disease in her bone marrow” says Victoria, “The tumour was pressing on her internal organs and made her extremely poorly. Her belly was swelling up and pushing on her lungs. She could hardly breathe and needed oxygen."
The family are fundraising for Solving Kids' Cancer to help Ruby, and other children like her, should she need to follow an expensive treatment path. With a high risk neuroblastoma diagnosis, the probability of relapse is high. Through Ruby’s Journey, Solving Kids' Cancer can ensure that every possible avenue for treatment is open to her.
Victoria describes Ruby as, “a very brave 2-year-old who loves babies, drawing, playing with her brother’s toys and eating cheese!”
Below is a poem written for Ruby by her 4-year-old brother Freddy:
What can we do for Ruby Roo
The little girl is only two
The poor little honey
Has a tumour in her tummy
Give a penny, give a pound
So a cure can be found
What can we do for Ruby Roo
The little girl is only two
Mummy and Daddy they keep crying
To be good I keep trying
Give a penny, give a pound
So a cure can be found
What can we do for Ruby Roo
The little girl is only two
I want us to be able to play
But Ruby Roo is sick all day
Give a penny, give a pound
So a cure can be found
I’m Freddy Robert I’m nearly five
Please help my sister to survive
To make a donation to help Ruby and children like her, text RLYJ88 and your amount (£1 - £10) to 70070.
To read more about Ruby, to follow her story or to find out how to fundraise, visit our website or her Facebook page.
Journey Terms and Conditions
All donations are paid into Solving Kids' Cancer's general funds to further its general charitable purposes. The funds raised by this Journey are not restricted for the child's use. However, the trustees of Solving Kids' Cancer have agreed to designate funds raised by this Journey to help the child and their family pay for potential future treatment costs and all other associated costs including travel and accommodation. If the child no longer needs the funds, or if the trustees decide, at their absolute discretion, that the funds should be used for a different purpose, they may redesignate all or part of the funds for Solving Kids's Cancer's general charitable purposes. We are very grateful for your charitable donation.
For further information about Solving Kids's Cancer and how we spend donations, please see our FAQs.
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