Toddler rings the bell after two years of leukaemia treatment

A three-year-old girl has rung the end-of-treatment bell at Birmingham Children's Hospital after two years of treatment for leukaemia.

Grace beamed from ear to ear as she rang the bell, cheered on by her family and the staff who have cared for her.

Diagnosed at ten months

Grace was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia when she was just ten months old. At the time she was the youngest child being treated for the condition at the hospital.

Her parents first noticed something was wrong when she went off her food and became more tired than usual. Doctors at first thought it was a viral infection, but she got worse.

"Over the course of a weekend, Grace became more poorly and bruises appeared in unusual places, like on her belly and the ball of her foot," said her mother, Sammy, from Warwickshire. Tiny purple and red dots also appeared on her skin.

"It all happened so fast. Within 24 hours we were admitted to the cancer ward and our lives completely changed," she said.

"Our doctor sat us down and explained that as she was so young, the cancer might be more aggressive. She needed to start chemotherapy straight away and there was a possibility in the future that she would need a stem cell transplant."

Intensive treatment

Over several months Grace had many procedures and intensive treatment, including high doses of chemotherapy, immunotherapy and regular blood transfusions, on the hospital's ward 18, followed by maintenance treatment in the oncology clinic.

"It was horrible seeing Grace have such intense treatment," Sammy said. "We know relapse is possible, but we're comforted in knowing the team at the hospital are continuing to monitor her. We are so proud of Grace and how brave she has been. She has gone through the toughest time with a smile on her face."

Sally Spencer, an advanced nurse practitioner, said: "Grace and her family have been through such a tough time over the last two years. It is lovely to see her now looking so well and enjoying family life."

Signs to look out for

Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia is the most common type of cancer in children, and most children diagnosed with it today are successfully treated. Its early signs can look like common childhood illnesses, which is why it can be hard to spot.

The NHS lists symptoms that can include:

• looking pale and feeling tired or breathless
• bruising or bleeding easily, including nosebleeds
• tiny red or purple spots on the skin
• frequent infections, fevers or night sweats
• bone or joint pain and swollen glands

Parents who are worried about a combination of these symptoms, especially unexplained bruising, should speak to their GP or call NHS 111.