Child Cancer Foundation supports Rachel through her toughest year

No one who attended Rachel Sweeny's third birthday party could ever have anticipated the year that lay ahead for her, after childhood cancer entered their lives.

In March 2003, two weeks after Rachel's birthday, she complained of having a sore tummy. As a nurse, her mother Debbie immediately realised that the solid lump she felt in her daughter's stomach meant very bad news.

Two days later, following a chest x-ray, ultra sound and biopsy, Rachel was diagnosed with a stage four Wilm's Tumor, that covered her entire left kidney. Wilm's tumor is a type of kidney cancer that most commonly affects children under the age of five.

Rachel then experienced seven months of chemotherapy, hair loss, a five-hour operation, infection and radiotherapy, in a bid to eliminate the cancer that had spread to her lymph nodes, lungs and liver.

Now, following her fourth birthday, Rachel's life is slowly returning to normal. She has been clear of all cancer since October 2003.

Rachel was the face of this year's Child Cancer Foundation Annual Appeal.

The Child Cancer Foundation became an integral part of the lives of Rachel, her mother Debbie and brother Ryan, when Rachel was first admitted to hospital and began chemotherapy the very day she was diagnosed.

Debbie remembers this as the hardest time of all the treatments as Rachel's little body had to deal with the effects of the chemotherapy.

"As a parent, it is extremely difficult to absorb much information in the early stages of diagnosis and treatment. All you can think about is getting that thing out of your child.

"The Foundation left us with a lot of information that I was able to read and absorb once the initial shock had worn off.

"They also provided a 'care pack' that was the most valuable thing I could have received. The pack included toiletries, meal vouchers, a present for Ryan and mobile phone recharge cards, which were fantastic because most of my family is in Australia.

"The best thing for Rachel was the disposable camera that was included. She was able to capture the people and events that were most important to her over that period and I know that in the future, these images will continue to be significant for all of us in this journey."

Like many parents of children with cancer, Debbie had to stop work to look after Rachel. The Foundation is also there to help out financially, when the car needs its warrant or when all the bills come in at once.

"The Foundation also works hard to help eliminate the isolation that occurs for everyone when a child in the family has cancer," says Debbie.

"We couldn't go on holidays because we had to be close to the hospital, and we could not go to places where other children might be, in case Rachel picked up an infection. That was really hard on all of us but especially Ryan who is only six.

"The Foundation organise group trips and events for families which means everyone around you is going through the same thing and understands some of what you are experiencing. During these events, it is only natural for friendships to develop. It is good to know there are others going through the same thing at times when you feel completely on your own."

Life is slowly returning to normal for the Sweeny family. Rachel is attending pre-school two days a week and is her old energetic, lively and cheeky self again. While Debbie is still not working she can see a time in the not too distant future when she can return to her nursing career.

"Rachel's fourth birthday became a major milestone for us but at the same time we didn't really know whether we should have a huge celebration or just be quietly thankful we have all pulled through. While you never know what the future will bring everything is looking positive right now."