A schoolgirl who was on the “brink of death” during her harrowing two-year battle against Leukaemia has been declared cancer-free in time for Christmas..
Little Halle Willis, 6, from Dumfries rang the celebratory bell on Saturday to mark the end of her treatment in front of her proud mum, Jessica Griffiths, 36, and dad, Matthew Willis, 37, after she was diagnosed on her first day of primary school in August 2022.
Medics declared the tot had Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia and that her bone marrow was “85 percent full of cancer”.
Jessica said:“When we found out it was Leukaemia, I asked if she was going to survive, but they told me they didn’t know. It was terrifying.”
But Halle has been declared free of the illness and the family plan to enjoy Christmas chemo-free before taking their first trip abroad together next year.
Courtesy of Wish Upon a Star, they will travel to Disneyland Paris, with Jessica adding: “She can finally live. She can finally fly.”
The first day of school proved traumatic for the family as Halle was rushed to the Royal Hospital for Children in Glasgow after collapsing.
Treatment began immediately but Halle suffered a severe reaction to her chemotherapy– leaving her fighting for her life.
Jessica described the terrifying ordeal: “She was being taken to the brink of death constantly in order to combat the cancer. One day she took a funny turn and started retaining water while on a drip.
“We didn’t know and when I left the room for just a minute, I returned to find six people working on her. We didn’t know if she was going to make it, but she is so strong and hasn’t stopped fighting ever since.”
Across the two years, she endured five phases of treatment, countless lumbar punctures, and chemotherapy every day. The process stripped Halle of her ability to walk and caused her hair to fall out.
Now, her hair has grown back, she’s walking, and she’s returned to school.
Jessica, who gave up her job as a carer to look after Halle, said: “I don’t think she will ever be the same as how she was.
“I feel like we lost Halle on the day she was diagnosed but we gained a new Halle. We’ve been told that in school if she sees someone looking poorly, she goes and tells the teacher. She’s looking after everyone else now.”
Despite her remarkable recovery, Halle is grappling with mixed emotions.
She added: “When I told her that the cancer had definitely gone, she burst out crying and said she wanted it back.
“It just became such a big part of her life.”
This Christmas will be a special one for Halle and her family.
Jessica said: “We haven’t been able to visit all of my family from England since 2022, so they’re all coming up to spend Christmas with us.
“It’s been strange because the chaos of cancer keeps you going. Now that it’s gone, I don’t know what to do with myself. I even woke up this morning thinking I’d forgotten to give her chemo. The chaos of Christmas might keep me busy now though.”
Don’t miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond – Sign up to our daily newsletterhere.