A baby girl who was diagnosed with dairy intolerance when she was only six months old passed away after celebrating her first birthday after it was discovered that she had a rare form of cancer.
Her grieving parents, Catherine and Andrew Jeans, have described what they experienced as ‘some sort of war battle.’
Rose Jeans, who was described by her parents as a ‘little gift,’ was only six months old when she was diagnosed with a dairy intolerance.
But a series of scans revealed several masses on her brain after she was admitted to a hospital.
“It started off when Rose was about six months old,” Rose’s father shared. “She had what seemed like minor bowel issues and was diagnosed with dairy intolerance.
“By New Year’s Eve, she was admitted to hospital because something just wasn’t right. She was rubbing her forehead and playing with her hair.
“After scans, doctors found several masses on her brain. It was first thought these masses were benign birthmark-type lesions, but over the next few nights she started to deteriorate.”
Little Rose was taken to the Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospital in Cardiff where she had CT scans, MRI’s, and three brain surgeries.
“She spend six nights at the Paediatric Critical Care Unit and on January 28 we were told she had an aggressive cancer, named Atypical Teratoid Rhabdoid Tumour,” Mr. Jeans said. “The few weeks between admission into hospital and diagnoses felt like a lifetime.
“The large tumour in her spine is what had been causing the bowel problems. We were told there was no treatment for her and that she would only be with us for a few weeks.”
Rose was moved to Ty Hafan hospice where she passed away two days after celebrating her first birthday.
“The last two days have been hard, but today has been a little more positive. You just never know how it’s going to be when you wake up,” Mrs. Jeans expressed. “The only way I can describe what we went through is like some sort of war battle. What that little girl went through in such a short amount of time was awful and she didn’t complain, she just got on with it.
“We’re just so incredibly proud of her. She was sent to us as little gift for whatever reason. It’s so brutal how perfect she was and didn’t give anyone signs of what she was hiding.
“In between my son Oliver, seven, and her, I suffered two miscarriages and she was the only girl on this side of the family. She was so wanted and we loved her very, very much.”
Mrs. Jeans added: “She had such a character. We nicknamed her ‘Little Miss Unsociable’ because she would choose who she’d give her love to – she didn’t take a shine to everyone but she was always happiest in my arms.
“We call Oliver Mr Bump because he’s always outdoors and bumping himself, so we had a little ‘Mr Men’ family.”
Our thoughts and prayers are with the family during this difficult time. Rest in peace, Rose!
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