The First Symptoms
In November 2019, Madeleine, the youngest of four siblings, turned four.
She had always been a bright and active gymnast, but suddenly she grew reluctant to put on her leotard or attempt her usual splits.
For months, she complained of pain in her bottom.
Night after night, she screamed in distress, but doctors believed they were simply night terrors.
We thought maybe she was still sore from a bike fall in July, perhaps with a bruise or a fracture in her coccyx.
But the pain persisted.
After several GP visits, she was finally referred for further tests.
The Diagnosis
At urgent care, Madeleine was sent for an ultrasound.
What appeared on the screen shook our world—a grapefruit-sized mass in her coccyx.
Within four days, scans confirmed stage 4 germ cell tumour.
The cancer had already spread to her lungs.
The word “oncology ward” became part of our lives overnight.
We had never known anyone with cancer, let alone a child of our own.
Beginning Treatment
Her oncologist prescribed six cycles of chemotherapy using the JEB protocol—carboplatin, bleomycin, and etoposide.
Signing the consent forms was heartbreaking.
The warnings of fatal complications were terrifying, but we had no choice but to give her every chance.
On December 10th, Madeleine began treatment.
We tried to give her as normal a Christmas as possible, riding the Santa Express and cherishing every moment, not knowing if it would be her last.
But on Boxing Day, clumps of her hair fell out. I broke down, unsure if the chemotherapy was even working.
Then came hope: her AFP markers, which had been 100,000, dropped to 33,000. As treatment went on, the numbers fell further—step by step towards recovery.
Fear During Covid
In early 2020, the world changed again. With Covid spreading, we feared for Madeleine’s life more than ever.
Her immune system was at zero due to chemotherapy.
For four months we isolated completely—no walks, no visitors, no risks.
Hospital pressure meant her chemotherapy even shifted to a local hospice.
It was frightening, but somehow we kept going.
Surgery and Recovery
By April 6th, chemotherapy was complete. AFP levels dropped to around 5, a near-miraculous improvement.
On May 27th—her brother’s 16th birthday—surgery was scheduled to remove the mass.
Covid restrictions meant only one parent could be with her at a time, but the operation was a success.
The tumour was necrotic. Our relief was indescribable.
By September, Madeleine started school with her newly cropped hair growing back.
Slowly, our family began to heal.
Weekly, then monthly check-ups became routine, until now we only see her oncology team twice a year.
Returning to Gymnastics
Even during treatment, Madeleine trained in gymnastics remotely.
That determination carried her forward. Last year, she added figure skating to her passions, training 10 hours a week.
In May, she placed fourth in the West Midlands for age nine and under, and an incredible third on floor.
We believe her discipline in gymnastics helped her avoid feeding interventions and gave her strength to keep fighting.
Looking Ahead
Today, Madeleine is a vibrant eight-year-old, full of dreams. She loves gymnastics, music, and playing the piano.
She is also preparing to sing with the children with cancer choir for the second year running.
For us as a family, the journey left scars—PTSD, anxiety, and deep changes in her siblings’ lives.
But it also gave us perspective. Childhood cancer is never a gift, yet it taught us to treasure each day, to find joy in ordinary moments, and to celebrate Madeleine’s resilience.
She is more than a survivor.
She is an inspiration, a reminder of courage, and the light of our lives.
