Brooke Ridgway dealt devastating diagnosis wants to realise Disneyland dream

This young woman was given a devastating diagnosis earlier this year but she’s pushing through to ensure she can accomplish her magical dream.

Brooke Ridgway, who was born with disabilities and has recently been diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma, with her cheerleading team. Picture: Supplied

Brooke Ridgway has a dream to meet Stitch from Disney’s Lilo and Stitch and when she finishes her cancer treatment she will do just that.

The 22-year-old, who was born with intellectual and physical disabilities, will travel to Tokyo Disneyland with her family, when she successfully finishes her treatment for Hodgkin’s lymphoma — a cancer she was diagnosed with earlier this year.

“I’m excited to meet Stitch,” the Para Hills woman told The Advertiser.

But before she travels to Japan, she must endure at least eight months of treatment — costing the family a minimum of $800 out of pocket, despite having top tier insurance.

“There’s one particular treatment that is one of the chemo drugs … it’s not on the PBS so we’re having to cover that,” Brooke’s stepfather, Adam Cadd, 48, said.

Brooke with her brother Ryan Ridgway after he shaved his head with her. Picture: Supplied

Brooke while undergoing chemotherapy. Picture: Supplied

On February 8, on Brooke’s mother, Tanya Cadd’s 46th birthday, Brooke noticed a lump on neck.

She showed her mother and asked her: “Is this normal?”

“I thought it was a pimple,” Brooke said.

But her parents brought her to the doctor who suspected it was cancerous and booked Brooke in for a blood test and biopsy.

A few weeks later they were told the devastating news.

“Brooke was a big extrovert, loved to socialise with her friends, but now she’s fearful of speaking with her friends because the C word might come up,” Mr Cadd said.

“It’s hard to deal with — Brooke hates seeing people’s faces turn sad, it breaks her heart and brings up bad feelings.

“She’s become very reserved and a completely different person.”

Brooke has become quite reserved since being diagnosed. Picture: Supplied

Brooke undergoing a lung function test. Picture: Supplied

When Brooke was born with periventricular leukomalacia (PVL) — a brain injury — her pediatrician warned her parents they might not be able to bring her home from the hospital.

At 12 weeks old after having treatment for hip displacement, they were told she might never walk.

Since she’s spent time in wheelchairs and had surgeries on both knees to keep her ability to walk.

Brooke lives with cerebral palsy, epilepsy, a heart murmur, oral dyspraxia, hypertonia, extreme sensitivity to pain, skin elasticity, hyper flexibility, vision issues and the intellectual function similar to a six-year-old level.

“We often have to check her after she’s hit by something or tapped something hot … we have to take her to the doctor,” Mr Cadd said.

Brooke wearing a wig. Picture: Supplied

22-year-old Brooke Ridgway was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma earlier this year. Picture: GoFundMe

Mr Cadd said bringing Brooke to Disneyland after her cancer treatment will be a “celebration” and the family returning “back to normal”.

He said it was celebrating that they didn’t have to live in “fear and anxiety” for their daughter anymore.

“To be able to not feel the death, possible death as well, because with extra special needs, there’s an extra fear that something might go wrong outside of the norm of what people would go through with chemo,” he said.

“It’s just a final note to say, we’re past this horrible stage.”

If you’d like to donate to Brooke, you can here.

Originally published as Brooke Ridgway dealt devastating diagnosis wants to realise Disneyland dream