ALANNAH (7) TAKES CANCER BATTLE IN STRIDE
THE mother of a brave young Dromara girl battling cancer said she is an inspiration and the "bubbliest wee girl you could ever meet".
Julie-Anne Donnelly said she will never forget the moment she sat alone in a hospital waiting room after being told her eldest daughter had a life-threatening illness.
Seven-year-old Alannah ended up in hospital being treated for leukaemia last September after her mother took her to the doctor thinking she had a simple infection.
Since that day last year Julie-Anne and her husband Frank have made regular trips to the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast while Alannah undergoes courses of chemotherapy to fight the blood disorder.
And now the family are keen to say thank-you to the Royal's Haematology Unit for the care Alannah has received. To that end they organised a fundraiser in Banbridge Royal British Legion on Friday, February 26.
Speaking to the Leader, Julie-Anne said it has been a distressing few months for all the family.
"We were just so shocked when we first found out," said the mother-of-two.
"I found blood spots on her face and went to get them checked out but never thought this would be the result.
"After going to the doctor on that first day, we ended up staying in the Royal for six weeks while Alannah got her treatment.
"It has been exhausting and I went from knowing nothing about leukaemia to the stage I'm at now where I could teach anybody about it."
Julie-Ann said her family has been a great support but it is Alannah herself who keeps everybody's spirits up.
She said, "Between my parents, Frank's mum, and all our extended family especially my aunty Marina, we have had brilliant support from everyone.
"But Alannah, even though she is going through all of this treatment and the side effects, is just the best of them all.
"She is the bubbliest wee girl you could ever meet and she takes it all in her stride.
"A lot of the other patients down in the Royal are exhausted and have no energy but Alannah runs about and asks me 'Right, what are we going to do next?'"
While Alannah is making good progress in her battle with the ALL strain of leukaemia, which is 96 per cent curable, Julie-Anne said it is tough to cope with the side effects of the disease.
"She has just started to lose her hair after five months of treatment and that makes it so much more real.
"It is difficult but Alannah is amazing and gets us through it all."
In recognition of the support the Donnelly family have received from the Royal's Haematology unit, Julie-Anne's mother Fiona, with the help of Sam Bell, has organised a fundraiser this Friday, February 26 in Banbridge.
All are welcome to attend the dinner-dance and raffle at the town's Royal British Legion which begins at 8pm. All money raised will go to the Haematology unit in the Royal.
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Weather for Dromore
Wednesday 08 February 2012
Today
Light rain
Temperature: 3 C to 5 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
Wind direction: South
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