January, 18, 2025-04:10
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A toddler was initially sent home by GPs who diagnosed her with the flu, only to later be diagnosed with a life-threatening cancer.
A toddler from Halifax, West Yorkshire, whose parents were initially told she had a virus after losing the ability to walk, was later diagnosed with cancer. Gracie McHugh, just two years old, was taken to the hospital in January 2023 after developing flu-like symptoms. She was sent home, but soon after, her condition worsened—she lost the ability to walk and developed a concerning rash.
Her concerned mother, Helen Jackson, 39, began researching her daughter’s symptoms online after Gracie began crying out in pain. Upon returning to the hospital, blood tests confirmed the shocking diagnosis: Gracie had acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.
Just days before, Gracie had been a healthy, energetic toddler, playing and dancing. Following her diagnosis, she received a blood transfusion and was transferred to Leeds General Infirmary, where she underwent ten days of intensive chemotherapy and steroids. Gracie also received physiotherapy to help her relearn how to walk.
Helen reflected, "It was such a dark time when Gracie was diagnosed. Thankfully, she was too young to fully understand what was happening."
Despite the "dark time" the family faced, mum Helen (pictured) remains hopeful as Gracie nears the end of her treatment. "It was incredibly difficult for her brothers, who had to cope with a lot, as we were frequently leaving them with other family members while we stayed at the hospital," Helen explained.
The family has also received invaluable support from the children's cancer charity Candlelighters, which Helen describes as a "shoulder to cry on." The McHugh family raised over £7,000 for the charity by running the Manchester Half Marathon in October 2023. Gracie has been enrolled in a Cancer Research-funded clinical trial called "Altogether-1," which aims to assess whether altering treatments can improve outcomes for children and young people with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL). Her treatment is scheduled to finish in March, but she has been diagnosed with osteopenia—low bone density—in her legs, a condition caused by the treatment that has weakened her legs.
"The end is in sight now with Gracie's treatment completing soon, and we have so much to look forward to this year," Helen said.
Gracie was recently honored with a star-shaped trophy, along with a gift card, t-shirt, and certificate signed by celebrity chef Jean-Christophe Novelli and TV personality Dr. Ranj. Helen, a child therapist, added, "Cancer Research UK is a fantastic charity for recognizing these amazing, courageous children and helping fund the clinical trial Gracie is part of. We couldn't be prouder of Gracie for receiving a star award—she has been so incredibly brave throughout her treatment."