Isabelle Northey found she had bone cancer after hurting her wrist playing on trampoline

Chrystal Northey shares the pain of her nine-year-old daughter Belle’s cancer diagnosis as she calls on Australians to support Ronald McDonald House.

Exclusive: When Isabelle Northey hurt her wrist while playing on a trampoline, her family never imagined it would end in a cancer diagnosis.

The nine-year-old’s hand was swollen for weeks after the backyard incident before she began vomiting and complaining of pains on the side of her chest.

And it was then her parents Chrystal and Jason knew something was wrong.

Their daughter was rushed to hospital where they were given the devastating news.

Four days later, the family of six travelled 417km from their home in West Kempsey in NSW to The Children’s Hospital in Westmead, where Isabelle was diagnosed with osteosarcoma (bone cancer).

“As soon as I entered the doctor’s room I knew something wasn’t right and the look in his face is a look I will never forget,” Mrs Northey said.

“This is when we heard the words we never thought we would hear, “your child has cancer”.

“Instantly our world crumbled. It was the most gut-wrenching feeling that felt so surreal … Belle was very scared and worried.”

Isabelle Northey with her parents Chrystal and Jason and siblings Aria, Elliot and Levi. Picture: Supplied

For the next 255 nights, the Northey family called Ronald McDonald House in Westmead their home as they supported each other through the biggest challenge of their lives.

“It was so hard on her body, it was so heartbreaking watching her be so unwell all the time. It impacted us greatly,” Mrs Northey said.

“Cancer doesn’t just affect the child being treated, it affects the family as a whole. And while Belle is doing well overall, she has also had some hard and emotional days.”

On May 4, the now 10-year-old celebrated a milestone when she returned to her dance class for the first time in a year.

However, the treatment and surgery has also left Isabelle’s future as a dancer unknown.

“As of now Belle has returned to dance to regain some normality, but to dance as she did prior to being diagnosed is still unknown,” Mrs Northey said.

“She has a long recovery to regain movement and function back in her arm and leg after the extensive surgery where her fibula bone was removed and replaced in her arm.

Each year the Ronald McDonald House provides accommodation, meals, education programs and support to over 1,500 families at their 60 room purpose-built House in Westmead.

May 15 marks the start of the Dance for Sick Kids’ seven-day dance challenge, and a year to the day that 10-year-old Isabelle Northey was diagnosed with osteosarcoma (bone cancer). Picture: Supplied

Most families, including the Northeys who stay at the Westmead House, live over 100km from the hospital and costs around $160 per night to accommodate each family.

“It has been hard and heartbreaking watching her go through it all and it’s something no child should ever have to endure,” Mrs Northey said.

“But it’s been so nice to hear her laugh again since we stopped her treatment. We hadn’t heard it for so long.”

From May 15 until May 21, Dance for Sick Kids is raising funds to help Ronald McDonald House and support sick kids and their families.

“We have been blown away by the enthusiasm and generosity we’ve received from the dance community and beyond for this campaign … we have raised $400,000 already”, RMH Greater Western Sydney’s chief executive officer Claire Barber said.

To raise funds, participants need to dance 30 minutes, 60 minutes or 120 minutes a day depending on what they have signed up to dance over the course of the week.