How a fall saved this young girl’s life
Cancer survivor April Wells was living with a silent killer growing inside her for years. If she didn’t fall over two years ago, her story may have had a tragic outcome.
NSW
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A seemingly insignificant fall may have saved April Well’s life.
The minor accident in 2017 ruptured a blood clot attached to a tumour on the then seven-year-old’s kidney, causing blood to present in her urine.
Tests revealed a Wilms Tumour — a rare kidney cancer mainly affecting children — but thanks to the fall, it was detected early.
April’s mum Stephanie Wells said the news dealt a hard blow for the family, as she was already caring for her mum who had terminal bowel cancer.
“I had already been looking after my own mother who was diagnosed 10 months earlier,” Mrs Wells said. “So not only was this a shock and devastating news but I was already wondering how I was going to manage looking after two cancer patients.”
Life for the Umina family was set to change as they prepared to support April through surgery and chemotherapy.
Redkite — an Australian charity supporting children and young people with cancer and their families — helped the Wells navigate the procedures and hospital visits. “Our first contact with Redkite was a Country Road overnight bag given to us in hospital,” Mrs Wells said.
“It had supplies such as toothpaste, brush, shampoo, sachets of coffee and hot chocolate as well as a book on the particular tumour we were looking at. They also gave April’s younger sister Willow a book ‘my sister has a tumour’.”
The charity also assisted with petrol vouchers to ease the financial pressure of weekly hospital visits for chemotherapy and money for April to buy a wig when she lost her hair.
Due to the time April spent away from school, she able to use funds from the charity to hire a tutor and attend art therapy lessons.
“We didn’t know what help was available before we joined the unfortunate ‘cancer club’ and we’re very grateful to know we weren’t alone,” Mrs Wells said.
April has shown no evidence of the disease for two years.
This Christmas, Coles is selling $2 donation cards which support Redkite and will donate 20c of specially marked biscuits until December 25.
Redkite CEO Monique Keighery said their partnership with Coles “is making a huge difference in the lives of local children with cancer”.
“Cancer doesn’t stop for Christmas, and it can be the toughest time of year for families affected by childhood cancer,” she said.
“It’s so easy to get involved and make a difference. In my family, we substitute Christmas candy canes for the special Coles biscuits. My kids love decorating them and give them to their classmates as gifts, and we always keep some under the Christmas tree for unexpected little visitors.”