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Mother's £175,000 life and death plea to save girl with rare cancer
Elizabeth Hopkirk, Evening Standard28.03.08
The family of a six-year-old girl who has a huge tumour wrapped around her spine have launched an appeal to pay for radical treatment in America to save her.
Jessica Magnus is suffering from a rare cancer that affects only two in every million children. The tumour was discovered when her mother took her to the doctor with a cough.
She had to undergo gruelling chemotherapy and surgery, leaving her with curvature of the spine so that she has to wear a brace 23 hours a day.
Doctors cannot be sure the cancer will not start growing again and in desperation her mother, Stana Magnusova, contacted charity Bobby's Fund, which recommended a hospital in America that offers treatment not available here.
But the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York needs a £175,000 deposit before doctors will even start treating Jessica. Today, Ms Magnusova, 30, from Clerkenwell, and Bobby's Fund are launching an appeal to raise the money.
Ms Magnusova, an accountant, said: "It's a very large amount but it's our only option. It's the difference between life and death. The NHS told me their policy is to watch and wait but with a tumour this size who would take that approach? Not me."
Ian Weir, fundraising co-ordinator of Bobby's Fund, said: "Jessica could be cured 100 per cent if she gets the right treatment and, like every child, she deserves the best treatment. It would be a tragedy if she was taken from us for the sake of the price of a small flat."
Jessica was four when she was diagnosed with ganglioneuroblastoma. She had surgery at Great Ormond Street Hospital to remove part of the tumour, which was threatening her heart, but its tentacles are entwined in her spine and eroding her vertebrae.
Her mother said doctors believed the tumour has stopped growing and they want to wait and see what happens, but if it starts again it could paralyse Jessica and her chances of survival would plummet-to about 15 per cent. Professor Andrew Pearson, consultant paediatric oncologist at the Royal Marsden Hospital, said: "It sounds like the mother has lost confidence and is looking for other options but it may be the best course of action for this child is observation."
A Great Ormond Street spokeswoman said the hospital was "happy" with the little girl's progress and her prognosis was "good". She added: "Jessica remains under our care and we are happy to discuss treatment options further with the family."
Reader views (4)
Thank you for your support Peter.I hope and pray there is someone out there who can help my darling granddaughter. Jessica's appeal address is appeal4jessica.co.uk Jessica's Nanny
- Carolyn Magnus, Erith England
A promise of a 100% cure for cancer, even for a lower grade cancer like ganglioneuroblastoma, is a very dangerous promise to make.
Children have been referred to the US for treatment for rare disease but only in cases where such treatment is not available in the UK.
- Claudia, Salisbury, Wilts
It's hard to believe Andrew Pearson deserves the title professor! The last thing any single individual should ever do if suffering with cancer is to watch and wait. How disappointing to think that this is what an apparently well educated individual would recommend someone to do. There are numerous approaches that can be taken to begin to give an individual the best possible hope in any case. I'm glad the family have found this organisation who aren't willing to stand back and watch. I wish the family all the best and wish the NHS were able to provide a more comprehensive level advice even if not being able to provide the treatments and equipment.
- Nick Lord, Bristol, UK
This is a really heartfelt story, I would love to get more information as I would like to do some events to raise money for this little girl!
- Peter Woodland-Bryl, chingford, london
