'NHS saved our young daughter's life - now she's clapping for them louder than anyone in Doncaster'

The weekly round of appreciation for the work that our doctors, nurses and paramedics are doing during current coronavirus epidemic has become an established part of the evening across Doncaster on Thursday eventings.

But one family in Skellow have their own reasons to love the NHS.

A year ago, young Myla Mae Carte, from Skellow, was battling a potentially deadly form of cancer, which had turned her life upside down.

After two years of trying to find what was causing her stomach cramps and vomiting, doctors diagnosed the poorly youngster, now aged seven, was suffering from the disease and removed a kidney which had a large tumour on it. There were also tumours in her lung and stomach which were also treated.

Myla endured a gruelling 34 weeks of chemotherapy – but has now been given the wonderful news that the cancer has gone.

Her family say that after the long months of treatment, they were already aware of the amazing work of the NHS even before the recent weekly rounds of applause for the service.

Mum Lyndsey said: “She is on the mend – there is no more chemo now. The cancer has gone, but she still has to be checked every three months.

“We are all just so happy and relieved. Myla is back to her normal self, although she still has a tube fitted because she occasionally has to have blood taken out in case she’s got too much iron.”

Before the schools closed down to prevent the spread of coronavirus, Myla had returned to lessons full time at Owston Park Primary School. Initially, she started attending twice a week while she was still undergoing treatment, before stepping that up more recently to attend every day, the same as all her school pals.

Lyndsey is full of praise for her daughter’s school, which she says has been really helpful for the family. They have sent her work home, and rung every week to check she is all right. She has received extra help on a weekly basis for some time, because of the amount of school she missed during her illness.

Because she was so ill in the past, the current coronavirus crisis means that the whole of the Carte family are currently in a 12 week lockdown, self isolating as recommended by the Government and the NHS.

So far, they are three weeks into that period, which is because Myla is still classed as vulnerable because of what she went through.

Lyndsey is proud of how Myla and her sisters, Maicie, and Madie, are coping with lockdown.

“Myla is taking it well,” she said. “But she is able to go into the garden and she has her sisters to play with.

“She has even learned to ride a bike while she has been isolated. She had not had the chance to learn before, because of all that she has been through. She rides it round the garden.

“She still has a nurse who comes to see her every week to make sure the line in her chest is clean, and she has blood taken every four weeks.

“Luckily, Myla had her three month scan the day before her lockdown started. She has taken it all in her stride.

“We are all out clapping for the NHS every Thursday night. We already knew the NHS do an amazing job, long before the current coronvirus crisis started.”

Background

Myla first hit the headlines in September 2018, when friends in her home village held a fundraiser for her and her family.

Mum and dad Trevor and Lyndsey were concerned about the amount of time it had taken for her illness to be diagnosed and for the start of her treatment for the condition.

She was initially diagnosed with a water infection, but her parents refused to accept that there was not more wrong than that.

After her diagnosis with cancer, aged just five, Myla underwent a gruelling treatment programme, including chemotherpy that led to her losing her hair. At one stage she was unable to walk. Her dad spoke of her bravery throughout.

She managed to attend the fund raiser in her honour at Skellow Grange Social Club, despite the treatment she was undergoing.

Her illness meant she was unable to go and see Father Chistmas at a grotto that year. But instead, Father Chistmas went to visit Myla at home, after the Doncaster Free Press and Went Valley Lions arranged for a special diversion of the Santa’s sleigh which the lions operate in villages including Skellow.

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