Miracle baby Emily Thompson is on the road to recovery after being born with a life-threatening tumour – that wrapped itself around her internal organs.
Tiny Emily was diagnosed with Kaposiform Hemangioendothelioma – a benign tumour which can often present as a birthmark – at just nine weeks old.
But the little fighter, who is still only nine months old, endured months of strong steroids and chemotherapy to see the tumour stop growing, giving her a chance of survival.
Her mum, Lisa Goodwin, 39, from South Shields, County Durham, is delighted to be able to finally see her little girl getting better.
She said: “She was having chemotherapy weekly then monthly, but now they have stopped it altogether. It has been a long journey and, at times, we weren’t sure if treatment was going to work.”
Lisa told how the family were dealt the devastating blow in February.
She said: “Emily was born on December 9, last year and she was a miracle baby for me as I didn’t think I could have children.”
When Emily came along she was five weeks early so her family were in hospital constantly while she was on the special baby unit.
Emily was admitted into hospital again in February after they found red swelling on the top of her leg.
Doctors at the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle ran MRI scans on the brave tot and found that she had a vascular tumour which was not cancerous but had potential to grow and wrap itself around her organs — preventing them from developing and potentially ending her life.
“We lived on the cancer ward of the Royal Victoria for seven weeks and were not sure whether it could be treated or not,” said Lisa.
“She was given steroids but the tumour was still growing, so they gave her chemotherapy which has stopped it developing.”
“We found out a couple of weeks ago that the chemo has worked and they think she is getting better.
“It has been a long journey and we weren’t sure if treatment was going to work.
“Its been horrendous. She had to be tube fed and was vomiting because of the side effects of the chemotherapy.
“Its been terrible watching her go through the side effects.
“She wasn’t gaining weight and we were worried about her development but she has since caught up with her weight and we are so happy. She is such a brave little girl.”
Emily still has a line to her chest to allow doctors to take blood samples and, while there is a chance the tumour may grow again, her parents are delighted to see she is on the mend.
Lisa said: “If it had kept growing it would cause her organs to fail and it could have been fatal.”
She is now being monitored to make sure it doesn’t grow again.
Lisa and Emily’s dad, Grant Thompson, 51, have been raising cash for the Royal Victoria Infirmary.
