Emily Cooke, 9, battling rare form of brain cancer
A local girl battling a rare form of childhood cancer is helping to raise awareness for others living with the condition.
Geelong
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A local nine-year-old girl battling a rare form of brain cancer is helping to raise awareness for others living with the condition.
Emily Cooke, from Lara, has been named the ambassador for Geelong-based cancer support service Peace of Mind’s annual Challenge Brain Cancer event.
When Emily was eight, she was diagnosed with ganglioglioma of the brain stem, which has no cure.
Her mum, Alison Cooke, said there was a long time between Emily showing the first signs of the tumour to receiving the official diagnosis.
“We said to her paediatrician when she was three-and-a-half-years-old that we felt something wasn’t quite right,” Mrs Cooke said.
Emily’s symptoms included getting food stuck in her palette, digestive issues and low muscle mass.
Two weeks after her fifth birthday in 2019, Emily had an MRI that showed a growth in her brain stem.
“We got a phone call the next morning and said they needed her back urgently,” Mrs Cooke said.
“It kind of floored everyone, it wasn’t the news we were expecting.”
In 2019, Emily’s symptoms progressively got worse.
Her left vocal cord was paralysed, her swallowing was effected and she was experiencing sleep apnoea.
During 2020, she underwent weekly doses of chemotherapy and her condition initially improved, however, towards the end of 2021 her symptoms worsened.
In March last, Emily underwent a biopsy, which had a long list of risks associated with the five-and-half-hour surgery.
“It was tough waiting that long for her to come out of surgery,” Mrs Cooke said.
“The biggest relief was when she spoke to me in recovery, all she could say was ‘hi mum, it hurts.’ ”
The biopsy led to Emily being officially diagnosed with the rare form of brain cancer.
She is continuing chemotherapy to treat her tumour, which she calls her “rainbow”.
Emily has weekly medical appointments and is attending school as often as she can.
Challenge Brain Cancer will see teams competing in an Amazing Race style competition.
Peace of Mind’s chief executive officer Rebecca Mallett said helping patients like Emily was at the heart of the organisation.
“This event is a fantastic opportunity for our Geelong community and beyond to come together to lend their support and make a difference to the lives of people with brain cancer,” she said.
The Challenge Brain Cancer event will be held on Saturday, February 25 at Westfield Geelong.
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Originally published as Emily Cooke, 9, battling rare form of brain cancer
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