Wolverhampton family smiling again after Rosie’s all clear

Her diagnosis came as a huge shock to her parents Chris and Jenny as the 'headstrong' youngster had previously been fit and well.

Just two days before her third birthday and after enjoying a party with all of her friends, she developed a limp.

"The limp got progressively worse. We had a few appointments, going backwards and forwards, to work out what was going on but there was nothing obvious.

"It got to the point where she couldn't bear any weight on her leg, her legs would just collapse and she was in real discomfort.

"She had an MRI scan at Russells Hall Hospital and they discovered she had major lesions through all the bones in her body.

"There wasn't an official diagnosis but it was believed to be a form of cancer. We were referred to Birmingham Children's Hospital where she was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.

"She began treatment, which is two and a half years for girls, on February 10, 2015 and was given chemotherapy," said Jenny, aged 37.

During her treatment, Rosie became very unwell and was admitted to hospital as an emergency on eight occasions.

"You always think it's not going to happen to you but it can. It was touch and go at times. She was in intensive care and on life support. She was unable to walk for six months. She had physiotherapy and had to learn to walk again," said Chris, 37.

"Once she as able to walk, she felt better. To her she just had poorly legs, she didn't really understand what was really happening," added Jenny.

The couple, who also have two sons - seven-year-old Jonah and three-year-old Gerard - and are also expecting their fourth child in February, said it was a difficult time for the whole family.

"It had been a real blow to her brother Jonah because Rosie had been so fit and well up until then.

"Her emergency admissions always seemed to fall on family birthdays or other occasions or when we were going away for a few days. It was tough for everyone and had an impact on all the children," said Jenny.

But now Rosie is making great progress and can enjoy the same things in life as every other child her age.

"She rang the 'end of cancer bell' in May so she is now in remission and will keep going back for regular check-ups every three months and physiotherapy.

"Rosie is back in school now and enjoys karate and riding her bike. She's a headstrong young lady and I think it's that spirit that has helped her fight everything.

"When she found out I was pregnant she said 'this one is for me. I want to be a big sister'.

"She was too poorly when Gerard was a baby so she missed out. She's excited about the baby and says she wants to push the pram," added Jenny, who is principal of SS Peter and Paul Catholic Primary Academy in Wolverhampton.

Rosie's battle was featured in a documentary on Birmingham Children's Hospital and the couple said as a result people have stopped them to ask after her.

Due to the support the family, who live in Penn, received throughout Rosie's illness, they have been raising money for the hospital's charity to say 'thank you'.

This has included Chris and Jenny completing the Birmingham half-marathon and Rosie, Jonah and Gerard taking part in the mini-run at Alexandra Stadium last weekend.

"We will always be connected to Birmingham Children's Hospital, we will never forget what they've done for us.

"It's a place where you hope you will never have to be but when you do have to go, you find that the staff and the work they are doing is amazing," said Chris, a childcare worker.

Annie Eytle, acting events and regional fundraising manager at Birmingham Children’s Hospital Charity, added: “We’re so thankful to Rosie and her two siblings for helping us to do more for our sick kids and to their mum and dad, for running the Great Birmingham Run half-marathon, raising vital funds for Birmingham Children’s Hospital Charity.

"The funds donated will make a massive difference to the lives of our brave children and their families which will use Waterfall House, which will house our new state-of-the-art cancer centre and a first-of-its-kind rare disease centre.”