4-year-old Audrina Hatton-Wright finally rang her hospital’s ‘cancer bell’ to celebrate the end of one of her treatments to fight cancer.
In July 2018, Audrina was diagnosed with high-risk neuroblastoma. She underwent multiple operations and numerous rounds of chemotherapy and also had surgery in December to remove a tumor.
Her most recent surgery was the hardest – a stem cell transplant while undergoing chemotherapy.
The girl’s mother, Gemma Gould, wrote on their website: “[It was] absolutely heartbreaking as we watched our baby girl go through some horrific symptoms.
“Audrina had to resort to sign language due to an unbearably painful mouth and we held her as she vomited blood and experienced hallucinations from the high level of morphine required to ease her pain.”
She added: “I will never forget those weeks or the bravery Audrina showed.”
Audrina has undergone 14 rounds of radiation, four operations and four rounds of chemotherapy since she was diagnosed with a rare childhood cancer. According to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, the 5-year survival rate is only 50 percent.
The condition causes symptoms such as loss of appetite, stomach pain, leg weakness, and painless mass in the neck, said the hospital.
The 4-year-old recently completed months of therapy and had a great idea to celebrate the occasion.
She dressed up as a Stormtrooper from Star Wars to ring the hospital’s ‘cancer bell,’ a tradition for patients who have finished their treatments.
Video shared to the family’s Facebook page shows Audrina walking happily to the bell. Hospital staff surrounded her while holding lightsabers. The video immediately gained thousands of views since it was shared online.
Even though her time at Nottingham Radiotherapy Center is over, she still needs to receive treatments. Her family hopes to raise money to have their daughter participate in a clinical trial that may help her prevent the reoccurrence of the cancer.
A description on their GoFundMe page reads: “It is imperative Audrina receives this treatment to ensure her cancer does not return and she can finally get back to living a normal life and enjoying her childhood.”
Within six months, the family has raised over $75,000 of their $254,000 goal.
What are your thoughts on this? Let us know in the comments section and SHARE this story with your family and friends!
Recommended Video!
“Brave boy, 4, is told he is cancer-free and can go home”