At her second birthday party, Ruby happily enjoyed all the excitement and atmosphere. For Rubys parents, it was a special day creating family memories. Not long after Ruby’s birthday party, Vikki and Rob were aware that their daughter’s behaviour had changed. “Ruby became quiet and withdrawn” explains Vikki “Ruby started to refuse food - she was infamous for her huge appetite!”
Other vague symptoms included a wheezy chest. This seemed to help, but her appetite was not improving. Ruby’s hardworking parents were enjoying a rare weekend away when they received a telephone call from Ruby’s anxious Grandparents. The local pharmacist had seen Ruby and thought she looked jaundiced.
“Ruby was clingy, unhappy and vomiting,” says Vikki. Ruby’s parents immediately returned home and took their daughter to the local Accident and Emergency department. By this point Ruby had stopped eating completely. She lost so much weight that a worrying growth in her stomach became visible. Ruby was quickly transferred to St. George’s hospital where a tumour biopsy was the first planned surgical procedure for Ruby. Her blood pressure was so high that the medical team considered it too dangerous to go ahead. Only when Ruby’s blood pressure was under control did the biopsy take place - the results of which left Ruby’s parents shocked and devastated. Their 2 year old daughter Ruby had stage 4, high risk neuroblastoma – an aggressive childhood cancer “When we found out about Ruby's diagnosis we were in complete shock, it all seemed surreal (and still does) and we were absolutely devastated. We couldn't believe this was happening to our little Ruby,” says Vikki. As with more than half of children diagnosed with neuroblastoma, the cancer had spread throughout Ruby’s body by the time she was diagnosed, making her condition one of the most difficult kinds of childhood cancer to treat.
“Ruby had a large tumour in her abdomen going up her spine and disease in her bone marrow” says her mother, Vikkii. “The tumour was pressing on her internal organs and made her extremely poorly. Her belly was swelling up and pushing on her lungs. She could hardly breathe and needed oxygen." The family are fundraising for the NCCA UK to help Ruby, and other children like her, should she need to follow an expensive treatment path. With a high risk neuroblastoma diagnosis, the probability of relapse is high. Through Ruby’s Journey, the NCCA UK can ensure that every possible avenue for treatment is open to her. Vikki describes Ruby as “a very brave 2-year-old who loves babies, drawing, playing with her brother’s toys and eating cheese!”
Below is a poem written for Ruby by her brother Freddy, 4:
What can we do for Ruby Roo? The little girl is only two
The poor little honey
Has a tumour in her tummy
Give a penny, give a pound
So a cure can be found. What can we do for Ruby Roo? The little girl is only two
Mummy and Daddy they keep crying
To be good I keep trying
Give a penny, give a pound
So a cure can be found. The little girl is only two
I want us to be able to play
But Ruby Roo is sick all day
Give a penny, give a pound
So a cure can be found. I’m Freddy Robert I’m nearly five,
Please help my sister to survive.
