After stage four cancer that damaged her spine Grace Holmes is dancing into the future

Grace was given little chance of ever taking her first steps but the tiny battler is now miraculously dancing into the future. WATCH THE VIDEO

When baby Grace was diagnosed with stage four cancer, her parents were told she would never take her first steps – but the tiny battler has beaten the odds to be declared cancer-free and is dancing her way into the future.

Grace’s mum, Brooke Holmes, said her firstborn daughter was just eight-months-old when they received the grim cancer diagnosis and her devastating first thought was: “Will I be organising her funeral instead of her first birthday party?”

No one could have guessed that a massive neuroblastoma tumour had been lurking in the chest of the seemingly healthy, bubbly baby with an adorable, gummy smile.

Even at nine by seven centimetres in size there was not the slightest outward hint that the potentially deadly mass lay hidden in her body.

Grace Holmes at the families property at Kincora. Picture: David Martinelli

But, when Grace hit eight months, her mum noticed that she was losing strength and mobility in her legs before a visit to St Vincent’s hospital in Toowoomba changed their lives forever.

An MRI exposed the cancer in her chest which was pushing against her spine and lung. She was rushed to the Queensland Children’s Hospital where she went through spinal decompression surgery – a process that helps relieve the pressure on the nerves.

“Being told about the tumour was bad enough but then we were told that Grace would never walk because the tumour had damaged her spine — that was devastating,” Brooke said.

QCH oncologist Dr Tim Hassall said Grace’s surgery had not been without risks but the team knew it was the “only chance for paraplegia to be avoided”.

Brooke Holmes with eldest daughter Grace Holmes, who was diagnosed with stage four neuroblastoma months after being born. Picture: David Martinelli

Dr Hassall said when a tumour compresses the spine of a baby, it quickly becomes a “very serious” situation which – if left untreated – can cause the cord to die and is irreversible.

Miraculously, just two weeks after the surgery, Grace’s unshakeable spirit started to emerge. She began to move her legs again.

And bit by bit she began to crawl, then walk and then dance.

While the huge size of Grace’s tumour meant her cancer was categorised as stage four and she underwent chemotherapy, the neuroblastoma was identified as intermediate risk.

Today, at two and a half years old, unstoppable Grace dances her way around her family farm in Kincora near Toowoomba.

“Grace has been through so much but has come out the other end as a little chatterbox who loves playing around the farm with the animals and every day and just to remind us how lucky we are, we have a dance party,” Brooke said.

Grace Holmes is now a normal healthy toddler, running and playing riding her tricycle. Picture: David Martinelli

“I have just learned to take life one day at a time. Of course I always have the worry when she goes for her six month scans that the cancer could have come back. I secretly think, it has had six months to grow. But I am trying to learn to control that fear and live for the moment and enjoy our lovely life,” Brooke said.

Brooke and her partner Jock, have welcomed another addition to the family with the birth of baby Lucy four weeks ago.

“I think that being diagnosed as a baby helped Grace to handle the treatment and surgeries well. She was unaware of our fears and just took everything in her stride. We didn’t know anything about childhood cancer and there were lots of tears. We had to move to Brisbane while Grace was being cared for at the children’s hospital. We are so grateful for the doctors but also Childhood Cancer Support who offered us accommodation at Herston during Grace’s treatment,” Brooke said.

Children’s cancer researcher Associate Professor Mark Cowley, who is the deputy director of the Children’s Cancer Institute, said that Grace’s story of triumph over adversity would help give comfort to the families of children with cancer.

Grace Holmes with her mum. Picture: David Martinelli

“Cases like Grace show how important it is to get an accurate molecular diagnosis, as that informs the best treatment strategy for each child with cancer,” he said. “That Grace is now walking, when she was told she may never, gives hope to all families told the devastating words that your child has cancer.”

There was a great celebration when Grace had her operation to remove the central lined used for her chemotherapy – a signal for the family to move forward and keep on dancing.

Brooke said going home was the greatest gift of all.

The family are sharing their story in support of the 25th-anniversary of the Townsville to Cairns Bike Ride which is aiming to raise $400,000 for the Children’s Cancer Institute. You can donate via tcbr.org.au.

Originally published as After stage four cancer that damaged her spine Grace Holmes is dancing into the future