My biggest fear when we knew she’d lose her leg was we’d also lose the Amelie we knew. But that’s not been the case.
My biggest fear when we knew she’d lose her leg was we’d also lose the Amelie we knew. But that’s not been the case.
Six-year-old Amelie Callanan was diagnosed with Ewing’s Sarcoma, a rare type of cancer in the bone. She lives in Redhill, Surrey with her parents and younger sister.
Amelie was diagnosed with Ewing’s sarcoma in her left leg in August 2018.
“We were told it was a tumour that was growing in the bone which could mean amputating her leg,” says her mum Emma, 41. “The cancer had also spread to both of her lungs. It was the worst news any parent could be given.”
Amelie was treated at London’s University College Hospital (UCLH) and took part in a clinical trial to improve the treatment outcome. She had 14 rounds of chemotherapy over the next six months. But just before Christmas, doctors said they had no choice but to amputate her left leg above the knee. She had the operation four days after her sixth birthday.
“Amelie’s amazing,” says Emma. “Two weeks after her amputation, with help she was doing short distances on her scooter. Soon she was back swimming and rushing about.”
Amelie had further chemotherapy and radiotherapy. After at first using a prosthetic leg, she now has a bright pink blade. There’s no longer any sign of cancer in her lungs.
“When Amelie was first diagnosed it felt isolating, as apart from other children on the hospital ward, we didn’t know much about sarcoma,” says Emma. “It can be a lonely cancer.
“My biggest fear when we knew she’d lose her leg was we’d also lose the Amelie we knew. But that’s not been the case. She’s bounced back and everyone has accepted who she is.”
