Lily-Mae returns to hospital for vital chemo

Tiny dancer Lily-Mae Morrison will return to hospital tomorrow for an intensive seven-week treatment programme in an isolation bed which doctors say is critical in her bid to beat cancer.

The four-year-old, from Claregalway, Co Galway, captured the hearts of the nation last month when a cover version of Elton John’s Tiny Dancer was recorded in her honour and almost topped the Christmas singles charts.

The youngster, who suffers from neuroblastoma, an extremely rare form of cancer that affects between six and eight children in Ireland every year, was able to enjoy the festive season at home with parents Judith Sibley and Leighton Morrison and little brother Evan, 2.

But tomorrow Lily-Mae will go into isolation at Crumlin Children’s Hospital for seven weeks where she will undergo high-dose chemotherapy and further stem cell rebuilding treatment.

Her mother Judith yesterday described the next stage in her brave daughter’s treatment as “extremely dangerous”, stressing that it was vital she avoids any infections.

Tiny Dancer Ball 25/01/13 to celebrate success of Tiny Dancer fund raise for Sunni-Mae Trust. Click for info http://t.co/HfVBivOm Pls RT

— A Song for Lily-Mae (@asongforlilymae) January 1, 2013

Judith said: “We’ve had a wonderful Christmas and it’s been fantastic to have Lily-Mae back home during this time. She’s benefited from it and she’s put on weight and looks really well.

“But on Sunday she goes back to hospital for seven weeks, where she will have a week of high-dose chemotherapy, followed by six weeks of stem cell rebuild.

“I’m worried about it, because it’s a dangerous time. There are risks of liver problems and pneumonia and various other things and any infection she picks up could be deadly. But fingers crossed everything will be fine.”

In early December Lily-Mae successfully underwent a life-saving operation in Crumlin to have a large tumour, which was twisted around her kidney, removed.

But her condition means that tumours can pop up just about anywhere on her nervous system.

After her seven-week stay in hospital, Lily-Mae will receive further radiotherapy and chemotherapy up to November, when an 18-month treatment course she is undergoing is scheduled to end.

Team Lily-aMaezing wishes you a happy 2013, full of love, hope and above all, health. Thank you for all you have done for our Tiny Dancer.

— A Song for Lily-Mae (@asongforlilymae) December 31, 2012

Meanwhile, Judith, a professional ballet dancer, is busy organising various fundraising events to raise €750,000 to pay for specialist medical treatment she fears her daughter will require in the US should her cancer return.

Judith said: “There’s a 70% chance she will relapse and if that happens we’re in a really bad place.

“We’d need to take Lily-Mae abroad if the cancer comes back, so I need to keep the campaign going and raise a lot of money.”

*www. exa.mn/fc