'My daughter complained of a sore elbow - then our world fell apart'

20 July 2023 , 11:17

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Isabella Minney, 9, underwent two years of gruelling treatment after being diagnosed with leukaemia in March 2021 (Image: Swansea Bay, University Health Board)

If you have kids, then one of them complaining of a sore elbow wouldn't necessarily worry you. Most of the time, that's all it would be - a bit of soreness that would then disappear.

But for little Isabella Minney, aged 9, this wasn't a 'most of the time' occasion.

Her mum Julia said: “Isabella had been complaining about having a sore elbow, so we took her to the GP to have some tests, and she was immediately admitted to Morriston Hospital.

"Then she was sent to Cardiff for further testing, and it was confirmed she had leukaemia and our world fell apart."

Isabella, from Penclawdd, was diagnosed with the blood cancer in March, 2021 and since then has undergone gruelling treatment. “Within days she'd had her port fitted and the hell began. She used to have long brown hair down her back and she lost that within three weeks and her face became all puffy," added Julia.

Baby boy has spent his life in hospital as doctors are 'scared' to discharge him

Her daughter has been through over two years of treatment including daily oral chemotherapy and intravenous therapy every four weeks.

'My daughter complained of a sore elbow - then our world fell apart'

After two years of treatment, the nine-year-old was able to ring the bell to celebrate the end of her chemo (Swansea Bay, University Health Board)

Isabella celebrated with her parents Gareth and Julia and brother Oliver (Swansea Bay, University Health Board)

She described her as "amazingly resilient" as she had dealt with aches, pain and fatigue which was emotionally draining for the whole family, reports Wales Online.

Thankfully, Isabella's treatment came to an end last week on Friday, July 14 and she became the first person to ring a new bell at Morriston Hospital to mark the end of the chemotherapy treatment.

Accompanied by mum and dad, Gareth, and brother Oliver, a delighted-looking Isabella cheerfully rang the bell which has been installed at Morriston's paediatric oncology shared care unit.

The unit treats children with cancer in the Swansea area and until now there has only been a bell in Cardiff for those finishing their treatments to ring.

The bell marks a special moment for patients, usually two or three years after treatment starts, when they are ready to return to everyday life.

The whole family can celebrate the occasion and reflect on the emotional and physical journey they have been through together, as well as celebrating the future. It can also inspire children with cancer to persevere when things are difficult. They are provided by a charity called End of Treatment Bells.

“The staff who have treated Isabella and helped us all through her treatment have been incredible. They have been so supportive and understanding and I don’t know what we would have done without them," said Julia.

Paediatric oncology outreach nurse specialist, Angela Gallagher, added: “Children with cancer have been receiving part of their intravenous chemotherapy here in outpatients in Morriston Hospital for the past three years, administered by myself and Jackie Quigley.

“They ring the bell on Rainbow Ward in Cardiff, but we now have our own bell for the patients to ring when they have their last dose with us. Isabella has had her last vincristine (chemotherapy drug). She is an amazing inspiration and has been throughout her treatment for leukaemia.”