Brave 11-year-old Laraib shares her story on International Childhood Cancer Day
Today is International Childhood Cancer Day and we’re sharing a message from 11-year-old Laraib, a truly remarkable young lady cared for by our expert Oncology team, who wanted to tell her story in her own words:
“I was diagnosed with a rare form of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) in February 2017 and I’m the first child in the UK with this type of cancer. My journey has been a roller coaster, with a lot more downs and funny turns than ups. I recently started secondary school which was really scary for me especially because I didn’t know anyone and I wasn’t sure what they were going to think of me but I managed to settle in. I’ve had lots of difficulties along the way including suddenly losing my sight and catching viruses and infections. This has meant that I have had to leave school and I am now being home schooled. Although things have been tough, I have stayed positive. I have done a lot of charity work raising money and awareness of childhood cancer to help other children like me. I am unsure when my cancer journey will end but I do hope that it will be soon. My message to any child and their family who are currently going through a tough time is to always stay positive and never give up. Remember, life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass it is about learning how to dance in the rain.''