AN ill youngster was left heartbroken last week after finding out her leukaemia was more aggresive and her treament’s success rate had slashed - but her family and friends are doing everything they can to turn negatives into positives.
Hoyland girl Enya Haugen Jackson, seven, was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in July last year and has since undergone chemotherapy as part of her treatment.
Signs were looking good for Enya as her chemotherapy sessions were cut down to just once per month but on Sunday her parents, 34-year-old Hayley Haugen and 40-year-old Rob Jackson, were told that her leukaemia had became more aggressive.
On August 9, Enya started to become unwell, complaining that she had a really bad headache - she was taken into Sheffield Children’s Hospital by her mum but was discharged later that night.
Hayley told the Chronicle: “We were due to take her back in the following day because her chemo was planned but she woke up on the Tuesday begging us to take her back to hospital and she was admitted straight away.
“She remained in a hospital room in complete darkness - no-one could talk and even the machines had to be covered up because of how ill she was.
“On Sunday at 2.55pm the doctor came and asked to have a chat and I immediately knew that something was wrong - we got Rob on the phone and that’s when were told she had relapsed.
“The leukaemia was much more aggressive than the first diagnosis as it was only in her blood originally.
“We were then explained that the success rate of her treatment has dramatically dropped from 96 per cent to around 30 to 40 per cent - it’s absolutely heartbreaking and the news is crippling.”
The youngster had been excited because her treatment was due to end when she was nine - shortly before Christmas next year - but now this doesn’t look feasible.
“Enya is aware of everything and she knows it’s back,” Hayley added.
“When she was told she screamed and wanted to be on her own - she wouldn’t let anyone near her for a few hours after.
“Enya was really excited because she was supposed to be finishing the treatment when she was nine - but now we don’t know what the future holds, it’s all about spending the most time we can with her.
“Our world crumbled when we were told the first time and now I’m hoping that I can be there for her much more because I was in hospital before.”
She now needs a bone marrow transplant and her six-year-old sister has been blood tested to see if she’s a match - and she wants to help in any way that she can.
“We’re praying that Sylvie’s a match for Enya,” she added.
“She keeps asking if there’s any other way that she can save Enya’s life if it isn’t a match and it’s just so hard.
“They’ve both had to grow up so fast with this and it’s just so unfair - they’re just kids.”
It’s now all about spending as much time with Enya as possible and turning all the negatives into positives, according to Hayley.
And the community have once again come together to offer their support for the family - with fundraisers and charity events already set up to help ease financial burdens which have crippled the family financially.
Enya’s grandmother, Marie Haugen, will be shaving her head on the charity day in her honour - and they hope to have a date in place in the coming weeks.
“There’s a lot of fundraising going off for her at the minute which is absolutely fantastic and the support we’ve had from the community is great,” added Hayley.
“We’re just really hoping that she’ll be able to get there for an hour or so on the day just so everyone can see how she’s doing.
“On Enya’s good days we will be arranging to spend as much time with our family and friends making memories because we don’t know what the future holds.
“Rob and I will be trying our best to turn all the negatives into positives.”
To donate to the youngster’s page, visit gofundme.com and search for Enya’s name.
