Violet’s story

Doctors found a fist-sized tumour on Violet’s adrenal gland above her left kidney and additional spots throughout the bones in her little body.  She immediately began intense chemotherapy which made her incredibly ill.

Violet endured six cycles of chemotherapy, a nine-hour surgery to remove the main tumour and her left kidney, a Bone Marrow Transplant, radiation to her abdomen, legs and spine, and six months of immunotherapy which required many nights in a hospital bed and strong pain medication.

Violet spent many days attached to an IV pole, unable to leave her room. Mum, Colleen says,

“The highlight of her day was when the music therapist arrived, and her infectious laughter could be heard down the halls.”

She loved to make the nurses sing, dance and rap to her tunes. In between the music therapy visits, the bedside play volunteers helped her pass the hours playing games and doing craft while also allowing her parents a much-needed break.

After 15 months of treatment, Violet was given the all-clear. Then, 10 months later during her routine six-weekly tests, a new tumour was found in the back of Violet’s jaw. Again, Violet started chemotherapy, although this time as an outpatient. 19 cycles of chemo and another 20 fractions of radiation later, the chemo was no longer effective in keeping the cancer at bay.

Violet is now undergoing radionuclide therapy in the hopes it will eradicate the cancer once and for all.

Story written and details correct June 2019