RING THEM BELLS: Two-year-old Sarah-Ceit rings bell cancer free

By Lucy Ashton

Sarah-Ceit McKenna (2) from Tollcross celebrated being cancer-free last week at the Royal Hospital for Children, surrounded by her family and hospital staff.

Sarah-Ceit began treatment for Rhabdomyosarcoma, a soft tissue sarcoma, at just 16 months old. The journey started when a lump on her foot affected her walking. Following an ultrasound by the hospital’s dermatology service, her condition was escalated to consultants, leading to an x-ray and a biopsy by the orthopaedic team.

“The orthopaedic consultant informed us that Sarah-Ceit had cancer and asked us to bring her to the hospital the next day where we met Oncology Consultant, Dr Diana McIntosh. Diana explained the next steps and the aggressive nature of Sarah-Ceit’s high-risk Rhabdomyosarcoma.

“We returned to the hospital the following week for tests, and chemotherapy began shortly after. There was a scare that the cancer had spread to her lymph nodes in her groin. An emergency biopsy ruled this out. We were also fearful of this spreading to her chest and lungs, but thankfully, after her chemotherapy we were informed that it hadn’t.”

Christina shared one of their toughest moments. She said:  “We left the hospital on Christmas Eve and celebrated at home, but shortly after Sarah-Ceit was readmitted for 12 days due to a fever. Her hair started falling out that night, and it was just the two of us. That was one of the hardest days.”

Sarah-Ceit had nine rounds of chemotherapy. Christina said:  “After the fourth round, a scan showed the lump on her foot had significantly reduced, and she was walking flat-footed again. Despite our optimism, I had a gut feeling that an amputation might be necessary.

“Unfortunately, due to the tumour’s location and its spread to her ankle, Sarah-Ceit had to undergo an amputation through her knee. It was heart breaking, but we knew it was the right decision to eliminate the cancer.”

“Two days after the surgery, Sarah-Ceit was bum shuffling up and down the hall. Her chemotherapy resumed a month later, and we met with the WestMARC Casting team for her first leg castings.

“She received her first leg a few weeks later and quickly learned to walk with it. The physios were impressed with her progress and said she didn’t need their help.”

Sarah-Ceit then went onto maintenance chemotherapy, consisting of six cycles over four weeks each. Christina explained that Sarah-Ceit’s resilience kept them all going.

“Sarah-Ceit is bright and bubbly, always adapting and never letting anything stop her. Even at 16 months old, she watched the nurses insert a cannula and wasn’t phased. The only thing that upset her was getting the dressing on her line changed because she couldn’t control it.”

“It’s a mix of joy and fear. We’re thrilled she’s finished treatment but now face the unknown. The treatment felt like a safety net, and now we’re out in the world. We’ll miss the Schiehallion Ward staff, who became like family. Sarah Pickel, in particular, was Sarah-Ceit’s best friend for the past six months. All the staff are incredible with every child.”

NHSGGC Consultant, Dr Diana McIntosh said:  “We were delighted to welcome the full family to see Sarah-Ceit ring the bell today. Our patients have a tough journey, and they tackle it head on with such resilience.

“For parents and loved ones, it is a terrifying time, and we work hard to make sure that everyone feels safe, supported and that they have a team rallying behind them. I look forward to hearing the updates of Sarah-Ceit’s adventures with her siblings and cousins. I’m sure there will be many fun stories for them to tell!”