Disney fairytale for Wyken girl with cancer
Sep 29 2008 By Christina Savvas
THE magic of Disney has made a dream come true for five-year-old cancer fighter Emily Jones.
The courageous little girl enjoyed a VIP trip to Disneyland Paris where she met her favourite characters including Minnie Mouse and Sleeping Beauty.
The fun trip was a welcome break for Emily who has undergone several operations and who faces weeks of chemotherapy.
Emily, of Wyken, Coventry, has received seven blood transfusions since she was diagnosed with a children's cancer six months ago.
Now her Disneyland happiness has prompted her parents to issue a poignant appeal for more people to be blood donors and help save the lives of people like their daughter.
Although the Wyken Croft Primary School pupil has a long road to recovery, mum Vikki and dad Richard, of Glenroy Close, say the generosity of donors saved her life.
They are urging more people to give blood and have arranged a donor day at Wyken Parish Hall, Coventry, on October 15.
Vikki, a Macmillan nurse at University Hospital, Walsgrave, said: "Emily underwent major surgery to remove her right kidney and surrounding tissue.
"Unfortunately the results showed Emily had got a high-risk aggressive cancer which had already spread to nearby lymph nodes.
"Emily is now in the process of undergoing a gruelling regime of 34 weeks of chemotherapy, which is due to finish in February/March.
"At the time of the surgery, Emily required two blood transfusions. Since this date she has required a further five, and three platelet transfusions.
"The generous donations of blood came from the general public - this gift has saved our daughter's life and we would like to help others."
Since Emily's diagnosis, relatives, friends, classmates and colleagues have raised money to send her on her trip to Disneyland Paris as a reward for her bravery.
During the four-day VIP trip to the fairytale theme park, Emily got to see all her favourite characters.
She said: "It was a dream come true. I got to see all of the princesses. It was magical, even better than I thought it would be."
Vikki, who also has a two-year-old son Ethan, added: "We had a wonderful time. It was very exhausting and Emily got really tired but it was a great experience.
"We didn't have to wait in any of the queues and got the full VIP treatment.
"It was a really important trip for our family. We have good days and we have really bad days and it's important we make the most of the good. We are hoping to take the children back to Disneyland next year when Emily has finished chemo and she hasn't got to have all of the tubes."
Emily was diagnosed with a Wilms' tumour - the second most common type of children's cancer after leukaemia, with about 70 cases in the UK each year.
Several fundraising events have been organised for her trip and for the hospital department which has looked after her.
Three Spires Dance school, where Emily has ballet lessons, donated £2,000 to the hospital.
Now the family would like people to help by giving blood. They hope at least 100 donors will turn up on the day.
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