Life-saving surgery could leave Olivia paralysed
FOUR-YEAR-OLD Olivia Jennings-Cavanagh is facing life-saving surgery which could leave her paralysed.
The brave youngster has an egg-sized tumour in the base of her spine, which surgeons will remove later this month.
But the position of the cancer means if anything goes wrong, Olivia may never walk again.
Her mum, Emma Jennings, aged 27, said: "That is the worst thing. She can walk now and she could end up in a wheelchair for the rest of her life.
"But I'd rather have a child in a wheelchair than no child at all.
"I found a lump in October last year and took her to Haywood Hospital, but I was told not to worry, it was just a bump.
"When it didn't go away I took her to my GP and he didn't know what it was. He asked me back to look at it a second time, then referred her to the hospital.
"But it took 10 weeks to get tested, so it was February before it was diagnosed. By then she had an 8cm diameter tumour.
"At the moment we are in a daze, nothing seems real.
"But to look at Olivia you wouldn't think anything was wrong. She will say, 'Mummy, why are you crying?'
"She doesn't really know what is going on. She thinks she has a chicken egg in her back, that is what we have told her.
"She is still going to school at St Luke's Primary in Hanley.
"Sometimes she is too tired to go. Olivia usually wants to go because she loves going to school, but then she can be very tired when she gets home."
Olivia, who lives with mum Emma, dad John-Dean Cavanagh, aged 24, and younger brother Harry, aged two, at Eagle Street, Hanley, has a rare form of muscle cancer called Rhabdomyosarcoma. Less than 60 children a year are diagnosed with the cancer in Britain.
She has been treated with chemotherapy since February and will have an operation at Birmingham Children's Hospital next week to remove the tumour.
Surgeons will have to insert a piece of metal into her back to protect her spine after cutting out the cancer.
Olivia's grandmother, Bev Jennings, aged 53, of Elldawn Avenue, Milton, said: "Olivia has had lots of treatment already, but children are very resilient.
"We are a close family, so we all stick together, but we all have good days and bad days.
"We just go from day to day and we are hoping for a good ending."
5 Comments
by kerry, birches head
Monday, July 06 2009, 12:16PM
“My thoughts and well wishes are with olivia and family. I hope all goes well the the surgery and after. Am sure she is a little fighter! X x”
by John, Hanley
Monday, July 06 2009, 11:19AM
“Chris, Newstead. The work of the "drop in centres" could be done by chemists and GP's. They were in effect created to support those GP's who are paid full-time wages but only OPEN part-time Monday to Friday! Take Stafford Hospital. In France they do not have waiting lists just efficiently run Hospitals. Here in England we waste money on new Gimmicks? In 2002 the NHS built a emply "drop in centre" at Bentilee costing millions, in 2008 they buy and knock down a perfectly good Pub and Bowling Green at Meir! what for and in 2009 buy canvas tents for drunks and druggies in Hanley. Until the NHS is better managed and run we will continue to hear "Olivia's" time and time again. Every waited 10 weeks for a product at Argos or Tesco. Perhaps they could run the NHS better?”
by anon, hanley
Monday, July 06 2009, 10:51AM
“my thoughts go out to olivia and her family and i hope that things turn out well for you.
My daughter had cancer so i know what you are going through its a very hard time for all involved if i had not decided to take my daughter to see a private dr then she probably wouldnt be here now as my gp was messing us about and saying that there was nothing wrong with her even when i asked him for a letter to go private he still said that there was nothing wrong with her needless to say when we were told what was wrong with her i gave him a peice of my mind and moved to a new gp.”
by Chris, Newstead
Monday, July 06 2009, 10:33AM
“Personally John i think the drop in centre works very well especially given the fact they are in my opinion under staffed. We should have more of these centres across the city.
Its sadening that they didnt deal with this with more indepth detail but they are not doctors. Neglect maybe but its not for us to decided and i would of thought its the last thing in the family of Olivia.
My Family and i would like to send our well wishes to Oliva and her family and hope that the surgery goes well without any issues. Get well Soon Olivia.”
by John, Hanley
Monday, July 06 2009, 9:46AM
“Every week we hear of failures in the NHS. Haywood Hospital drop in centre is a "white elephant" and should be closed immediately. The money saved then spend on staffing the expensive testing equipment that stand idle all week-end and nights at the University Hospital? Haywood failed this girl. Two GP visits!! Then 10 weeks for a test!! Words fail me? I wish this girl and her family the very best of luck. My personal thoughts and prayers are with them all.”