Apple's story
This November, Apple celebrates one year in remission as she fronts Neuroblastoma UK’s first matched-funding campaign with the Big Give Christmas Challenge. Thank to Apple and her family for their support.
Apple (back) with her sister Talullah, mum Anthea and dad Uriah
“My six year old daughter, Apollonia (Apple) was diagnosed with stage four, high risk neuroblastoma on 9th August 2021. She was three years old.
I remember the feeling of terror and being so overwhelmed with information at the start. Thankfully, Apple has been in remission since November 2022 and is absolutely thriving now. She’s at school and a happy, healthy six year old. She probably won’t even remember having cancer. Thanks to the research funded by Neuroblastoma UK and other cancer charities, while the long term survival rate is still around 50:50 for High Risk Neuroblastoma stage 4, our Apple has a chance now.”
Anthea, Apple’s mum, shares their story.
Apple’s symptoms and diagnosis
“Her nursery set up a communication diary with us to track her behaviour and eating as this was unlike her, she was usually so happy. ”
In summer 2021, Apple had a couple of months of general ailments. She was tired, complained of tummy ache, was sick, cried a lot and was clingy. We visited the GP a few times who said it was constipation or maybe a UTI. Her nursery even set up a communication diary with us to track her behaviour and eating as this was unlike her, she was usually so happy.
In July 2021, Apple started to complain about her legs hurting.She couldn’t stand up on her own as her legs were so painful. We took her to A&E and the doctors thought that she had inflammation of the hip joint. We were sent away with ibuprofen, which helped a little. But a few weeks later, Apple couldn’t stand and the pain was worse. We took her straight back to the hospital. X-rays showed that Apple had a large tumour in her abdomen from her diaphragm to her pelvis. The cancer had spread to her blood and bones. Apple also had a tumour in her stomach and her skull with 14 other 'hot spots' all over her body.
A ‘monster teddy’ and 18 months of treatment
“Our biggest fear was that our daughter was going to die. I didn’t know anyone who has had cancer, and I knew nothing about neuroblastoma. ”
Our biggest fear was that our daughter was going to die. I didn’t know anyone who has had cancer, and I knew nothing about neuroblastoma. She endured an 18 month treatment plan, including high dose chemotherapy, major surgery, a stem-cell transplant and six rounds of radiotherapy followed by immunotherapy. She also took part in the SIOPEN NR-HBL2 clinical trial.
Her surgery took 10 hours and the surgeon got 99% of the tumour out. What was left was residual and is stable.
Apple called her tumour a ‘monster teddy’. She dealt with the surgery amazingly and was up on her feet after four days. The first 48 hours were hard as she couldn’t eat/drink and she was very thirsty. She remembers sucking the little sponge we used to wet her lips. She now has a large rainbow shaped scar from one hip, over her belly button and down to her other hip. She’s very proud of it.
Apple in her school uniform with her sister
When she started losing her hair very fast, it was getting in her food, mouth etc so we both went to the hairdressers and got a grade 2 haircut. I didn’t want her to be afraid and be the only one with no hair, so I did it too!
Our goal was for her to start school cancer free. She was still in treatment in Sept ‘22 when she started but she has done brilliantly this year with 88% attendance despite numerous hospital visits and stays. She went into remission in Nov ‘22 and is thriving.
Apple’s Side effects
Apple is now a happy, healthy six year old.
The legacy from her treatments remain. She may struggle with fertility. During her surgery one of her ovaries was harvested and is being kept for her in cryo-preservation for when she may want to start a family. She has many scars and even tiny tattoos on her body. She has lost her high frequency hearing and now wears hearing aids. She still has, and may always have, bowel issues which we manage with medication.
Despite all this, she started school last September, loves gymnastics and is a normal, happy, healthy six year old.
a family of fundraisers!
When Apple was first diagnosed, Anthea’s siblings and one of her oldest friends started fundraising to raise money for Neuroblastoma UK. Nicolette Usher (47) pledged to run a marathon/half marathon for every month Apple was in treatment. She didn’t realise at the time that treatment would last 15 months! But she kept her promise, ran loads of races for Apple and raised £3,560 in her ‘Apple the Brave’ running challenge.
Anthea’s little brother, Mike Hirst (43) arranged a fun run and open sea swim near his home in Bangor, NI and raised £5,232! Anthea’s big brother, Rich Hirst (50) and his family raised £4,082 by doing 10,000 press-ups and 4 ½ marathons in one month. Anthea’s big sister, Trish Smart (52) raised over £500 after arranging a fun run just after Apple was diagnosed.
All the support was hugely appreciated by the family. It also made everyone feel they could actually do something to help. Feeling powerless and helpless when someone has cancer is a real issue.
Thank you to Anthea for sharing Apple’s story with us.
To help more children like Apple, join us this Childhood Cancer Awareness Month by wearing a Gold Ribbon. Visit our Gold Ribbon shop, share our stories and show your support for everyone affected by neuroblastoma.