“It started with just a limp, and within two days, it was confirmed she had cancer.”
A mother is advocating for heightened awareness of cancer’s lesser-known symptoms after her young daughter was diagnosed following the onset of a limp.
Carly-Rae Gilbert of Elgin was nearing her sixth birthday when a seemingly minor limp quickly escalated into a life-threatening condition. Within just two days, she was battling Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia.
Her mother, Samantha Stevenson, aged 33, initially took her to the emergency department at Dr Gray’s Hospital on November 11, suspecting the limp might be due to a simple viral infection causing hip irritation as suggested by the medical staff.
However, Carly-Rae’s health deteriorated rapidly. She began to experience extreme fatigue, her temperature spiked, and she soon became unable to move her wrist.
Driven by maternal instinct, Samantha returned to the hospital with her daughter two days later, only to receive the devastating news that Carly-Rae had cancer.
“Around 9:30 p.m. that evening, I was taken aside and informed of her diagnosis,” Samantha recounted. “The speed at which everything happened was staggering. We thought we were dealing with a minor infection, and suddenly we were facing leukemia.”
“Initially, she just had a limp, and then suddenly, we were told she had cancer.”
From that point on, the family was plunged into a whirlwind of hospital admissions, urgent medical procedures, and constant worry.
Immediately following her diagnosis, Carly-Rae was placed on intravenous fluids and transported from Elgin to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary. She underwent surgery for a peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) line and bone marrow tests, starting chemotherapy by November 16.
Yet, the ordeal was far from over. Carly-Rae’s condition worsened on November 23 when she suffered acute kidney failure, necessitating an urgent flight to Glasgow’s Queen Elizabeth University Hospital for life-saving dialysis.
“It was terrifying,” Samantha admitted. “After dialysis, she had to undergo another procedure to insert stents due to kidney stones.”
Despite these challenges, Carly-Rae faced her situation with remarkable bravery. She spent Christmas at home with her family but returned to the hospital shortly after to continue her treatment.
Samantha shared, “The hardest part is the uncertainty. Though there are tough days, Carly-Rae is handling everything incredibly well. She’s missed a lot of normal childhood experiences but understands what is happening and remains strong.”
With a hopeful outlook from the doctors and ongoing treatment, both Samantha and Carly-Rae’s father, Iain Gilbert, are using their experience to educate other parents about the subtle signs of cancer they had overlooked.
Reflecting on the symptoms, Samantha explained, “At the Aberdeen hospital, we were given a list of common symptoms. Looking back, she exhibited many of them. She bruised easily, was unusually tired, had become fussy with food, and was losing weight.”
“I had no idea about these signs before, so I want to make sure other parents are informed,” she concluded.
Hi, I’m Benjamin, a member of the Sherburne County Citizen team. With a passion for writing and a deep interest in current affairs, I thoroughly enjoy bringing you the latest news and trends that affect our daily lives.
