A family have been left left beyond devastated after their nine-year-old daughter was diagnosed with cancer following her symptoms being previously dismissed.
It all started when Haylee, who hails from Queensland, Australia, started getting bruises on her shins which her mum, Danielle, originally thought were from physical activities.
The bruises on the schoolgirl, who is a fan of swimming, riding her bike and generally just being outdoors, soon became lumpy to the touch which prompted Danielle to take her to the doctor's where they referred her for a blood test.
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Following the GP checkup, just a few days later on November 24, the family received the tragic news that Haylee had been diagnosed with acute promyelocytic leukaemia (APML).
APML is a rare sub-type of acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) which is a rare type of blood cancer.
Danielle and her partner Drew, along with Danielle's sister and Haylee's aunt, Tracy, and their other sister Ann-Marie rushed Haylee to Townsville Hospital where she hasn't been home since.
Speaking to 7Life, Tracy has since opened up about the heartbreaking situation.
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She explained that the nine-year-old had no other symptoms other than the scattered bruising which is usually nothing unusual for a child of that age.
She told the outlet: "Her bruises were only on her arms and legs. It looked like she kept hitting them (shins) on something, you know how when kids are really young, and they always have bruises on their shins."
Haylee, who was flown to Brisbane Children’s Hospital the next day, has since started nine months of specialised intense treatment to fight the cancer.
Talking about the bruising symptoms, Tracy added: "She (Haylee) had one on her forearm which looked oval shape, but when you felt it, there was a lump in the middle of it."
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Danielle, Drew and Haylee's two older brothers are now living at Ronald McDonald House with Danielle, who is in her second trimester of pregnancy, and she opened up about how hard it is leaving her daughter's side.
"(They) spend most of the time with Haylee," Tracy continued. "Haylee was really upset and scared and just wanted to go home when she got the diagnosis."
A GoFundMe has since been started by Haylee’s cousin, Deanne, and has so far raised $7,428 AUD of the $35,000 goal.
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The fundraiser's description reads: "On Friday the 24th of November, just 10 days after our Grandad died, Haylee was diagnosed with a rare type of Leukaemia. This is called Acute Promyelocytic Leukaemia or APML for short.
"APML only affects 100 people every year and the treatment takes several months which means they will be away from home for Christmas and unable to work.
"Haylee’s treatment includes chemotherapy, blood transfusions and medications. She is also getting her blood marrow tested regularly. The likelihood of success is good, but it will be a long and challenging process."
You can donate to the GoFundMe here.
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If you’ve been affected by any of these issues and want to speak to someone in confidence, contact Macmillan’s Cancer Support Line on 0808 808 00 00, 8am–8pm seven days a week
Rhiannon Ingle