Community rally around young Millie Churchill diagnosed with cancer

Parents of a young Bass Coast girl say they are “deeply grateful” for the support their family has received after their daughter was diagnosed with cancer just weeks ago.

Millie is in for a tough fight against cancer.

The Bass Coast community is rallying around one of their own, digging deep to help a family facing one of the toughest battles.

Young Millie Churchill, 6, was diagnosed with cancer and her family of five has been throwing everything they have at the gruelling fight.

Millie’s mum Paige Nuske is a nurse at Bass Coast health and her father Dirk is the manager at Woolworths in Cowes, the couple moved to the Island from Wonthaggi 10 years ago and now live in San Remo with their three young children.

They said they knew something was first wrong with Millie when she began complaining of abdominal pain just weeks ago.

“It first came to our attention that something was amiss on the 10th of June, Millie was restless and complaining of abdominal pain during the night, which seemed to ease by morning,” Ms Nuske said.

“By Monday Millie begun to complain of more intense lower abdominal pain. At this point I noticed a solid lump in her lower abdomen.”

Millie Churchill, 6, San Remo

Mrs Nuske took Millie to the Wonthaggi Hospital and within 30 minutes, they were being transferred to the Monash Children’s Hospital.

“We haven’t been home since,” she said.

Millie was diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma on June 20.

Ms Nuske and her husband Dirk said “nothing can prepare you” for hearing the news.

“Nothing can prepare you for the fear and devastation you feel in learning that your child has cancer,” they said.

“They are still waiting on some results for staging and can't differentiate where it originated from. She started a nine-week intensive Chemotherapy regimen on Friday with the likely prospect of targeted therapy,” Ms Nuske said.

Millie with her mum and siblings.

Millie is a “determined” and “kind” little girl who always “strives to do her best”.

She is “witty and fun” and always “sings around the house”.

“She loves musicals like Annie and The Greatest Showman. She is forever making someone a drawing and loves her gymnastics at the YMCA in Cowes,” Ms Nuske said.

A GoFundMe page was set up for the family less than a week ago and has already raised almost $15,000.

The page was started by a community member who happened to run into MIllie’s family at the Royal Children’s Hospital last week.

Millie with her dad and siblings.

Jacquie Stewart set up the fundraiser to help the family after their world was “completely rocked” after the diagnosis.

Ms Nuske said her family found it hard to accept help at the beginning but have since realised they can’t do it alone and are “so grateful” for the community they have around them.

“We are blessed with an amazing community of people. Beyond our close friends and family, work colleagues, the kids sporting associations and even some local eateries have offered their support,” Ms Nuske said.

Millie Churchill, 6, San Remo

“We would love to thank each person individually but the enormity of support may make it difficult.”

She added the support from the community has meant her and Dirk have been able to stay by Millie’s side.

“Millie is already experiencing many side effects related to the chemotherapy. We just don‘t know when we will be home and for how long as much of her treatment requires us to be in hospital,” she said.