A young girl tragically passed away before her family could raise enough money for a life-saving operation.
12-year-old Grace Kelly from Oadby, England, was on a trip to Specsavers when an optician performing routine check-ups spotted swelling behind the girl’s eyes.
Following a trip to Leicester Royal Infirmary, an MRI scan revealed a large tumor that required immediate treatment.
Grace then embarked on a grueling medical journey involving surgery, radiotherapy, and numerous rounds of chemotherapy in a bid to get rid of the cancerous growth.
While her prognosis looked better for a while, the tumor eventually grew back. In one final bid to save the girl’s life, Grace’s family began saving for life-saving immunotherapy in Germany, a treatment that is not covered by NHS insurance.
Unfortunately, the family could not raise the $250,000 needed for the treatment in time to give the girl a fighting chance.
“Our brave and beautiful girl took on her cancer like a warrior, she never complained and always had a smile,” Grace’s grieving mom, Vanessa, said in a heartbreaking tribute to her daughter.
“Our perfect girl was polite, funny, brave, beautiful and smart. We were so lucky to have her as our daughter, and she was an amazing big sister to Marissa and Nathan.
“She will be missed by family and friends so much.”
The mom continued: “All our hearts are shattered at the loss and we still can’t believe she has gone. She will always be with us.
“We had 12 amazing years with Grace but it wasn’t enough, we miss her already. I don’t know how we will go on without her. Fly high our angel Grace.”
Following her daughter’s premature passing, Vanessa also shared her frustration over the fact that the pioneering life-saving treatment is not available in the UK and that it can’t be accessed by so many despite having the potential to save lives.
“I find it shocking and frustrating that these pioneering treatments are not available in the UK. There is something that might be able to help but we can’t access it,” the mother said.
“We are shocked that the standard of care for brain tumors has been the same for the last 20 years.”
Our hearts go out to Grace’s family and friends during this challenging time.
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