Brave toddler can have life-saving cancer treatment in Germany

A brave toddler from Milnrow can undergo lifesaving cancer treatment in Germany.

Two-year-old Bodie McNulty was initially diagnosed with a brain tumour shortly after Christmas 2016 when she was just 10 months old.  

https://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/117024/milnrow-family-in-desperate-race-to-raise-%C2%A3175000-towards-lifesaving-cancer-treatment-abroad-for-toddler-daughter

After approaching various centres for proton beam therapy, which is unavailable in the UK, a centre in Germany has agreed to treat Bodie. Proton beam therapy avoids targeting healthy brain tissue, unlike photon radiotherapy. 

Her parents, Lauren Thornton and Kevin McNulty, have to pay the full cost of the treatment outright, which has been estimated at €61,400 (approximately £53,000). Their daughter can then start treatment the following week.

Lauren said: “We have had some fantastic news from the Proton Centre in Essen, Germany. They have said yes to treating Bodie and have been given an estimated cost of €61,400 for Proton Beam Therapy and can start her treatment plan as soon as we have made payment.

“Once Bodie has completed her treatment, they will send us a final bill for any other costs that might incur if she needs any inpatient or emergency care, but hopefully that won’t happen.”

The brave little girl underwent her first surgery on New Year’s Eve 2016 to relieve pressure in her skull, before a further operation just four days later to remove as much as the tumour as possible. After nine hours of intensive surgery, only around half of the tumour could be safely removed.

Two weeks after the operation, Bodie was diagnosed with a Grade Three Anaplastic Posterior Fossa Ependymoma, the third most common type of childhood brain tumour which affects glial cells. Glial cells surround nerve cells, providing support and insulation.

Grade Three Anaplastic Ependymoma, which commonly originate in the posterior fossa, a small space in the skull near the brainstem and cerebellum, are the fastest growing type of ependymal tumour.

Since then, Bodie has endured 12 months of chemotherapy, which Lauren says worked “far better than her consultant had previously thought”. Bodie also underwent two additional operations in February 2018, although a small amount of the tumour has been left behind, inoperable due to its location in her brainstem.

So far, the family have raised approximately £33,000 towards Bodie’s treatment through both online and offline donations.

To help fund Bodie’s life-saving treatment, visit:

https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/protonforbodie