MAMMY’S GIRL
I’m so glad my Mercy is here for Mother’s Day after brain op… all I want to do today is watch her dance around at home
Mercy was diagnosed with a rare inoperable brain tumour which left her unable to walk or talk
MUM Lorraine Cuthbertson has been given the best Mother’s Day gift – getting to watch her little daughter Mercy dance around their living room.
Last year Lorraine, 43, and her husband Paul feared they would lose their precious girl after she was diagnosed with a rare inoperable brain tumour.
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It left Mercy, who turned six in January, unable to walk or talk.
But after undergoing three brain surgeries, 28 radiotherapy sessions, intense physiotherapy and medication, they have got their bubbly daughter back.
Police Chief Inspector Lorraine told the Sun on Sunday: “There were days when we thought she wouldn’t see this Mother’s Day.
“We are so very lucky to have her here with us.
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“All I want to do today is stay at home and watch her dance and smile.
“You realise now that it is the little things in life that are truly magical.
“She doesn’t have great balance because of the tumour but it is an absolute joy to watch her being carefree and happy.”
Mercy has an aggressive paediatric condition called diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG), which can manifest quickly between the ages of five and ten.
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It affects only 20 to 30 children in Britain each year and does not respond well to chemotherapy.
Last July Lorraine and Paul, 52, who both work for Northumbria Police, noticed Mercy had suddenly stopped “racing” around the house and was having dizzy spells.
After Mercy was referred for tests by her GP, the couple, from North Tyneside, learned their daughter had a tumour.
Ant and Dec send special message to Mercy Cuthbertson following her inoperable brain tumour diagnosis
Life-saving treatment
Lorraine said: “Within weeks the radiotherapy started.
“The tumour had already affected her vision and mobility, and soon she needed a wheelchair.
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“She couldn’t go to school, which was heartbreaking because she absolutely loved it.”
Since then Mercy has had an operation to relieve the pressure on her brain and is taking medication shipped from the US that can help her speech and balance.
But Lorraine says: “We have been told the medication may not hold back the tumour symptoms forever, and it is not a cure.”
In the event the medication stops working, Mercy will need treatment abroad as part of a clinical trial.
The medical costs are expected to be upwards of £100,000.
The couple set up a fund-raising page and thanks to generous Sun on Sunday readers, the North East community and police colleagues, they now have the money for the potentially life-saving treatment.
Lorraine says: “The number of people who have donated has been utterly amazing.
“When we reached the £100,000 mark, so many people were still arranging fund-raising events, cake bake sales and runs, so we upped the target and any money not used for Mercy’s medical care will go to charity Abbie’s Army, which raises money for brain tumour research.
“We have nothing but gratitude for the Sun on Sunday readers who donated.
Mercy's VIP trip
LITTLE Mercy Cuthbertson made magical moments that she and her family will never forget as she was treated to a VIP trip on a train.
The six-year-old travelled up to Edinburgh after Newcastle-based train operator Lumo heard about her bravery and invited her as a special guest on board and welcomed her into the driver's cab.
Mercy and her parents Lorraine and Paul were invited to an exclusive performance at the Scottish Storytelling Centre in the city's Royal Mile where she met a unicorn, followed by a visit to Edinburgh Castle.
Richard Salkeld, Head of Communications and Partnerships at Lumo, said: "When we heard about Mercy's story and her love of our trains, we began to create a truly memorable experience for her and her parents. Today has been a joy."
Her dad Paul, said she had been treated "like royalty";.
He said: "It's been so special and I think everyone had a tear in their eye when she reached out and stroked the unicorn who she named Twinkle. Thanks to everyone who helped make today so unforgettable."
“Every day is an absolute struggle filled with fear and worry but knowing we can help Mercy when the time comes is wonderful.”
The drug that could prolong Mercy’s life is called ONC201, but it is a relatively new treatment for stabilising a DIPG brain tumour and has not yet undergone all of the necessary clinical trials for licensed use on the NHS.
There are two trials abroad that could accept Mercy if the time comes.
But for now she is attending Newcastle’s Great North Children’s Hospital and has returned to school for a few hours a week.
Lorraine says: “Mercy loves school and it is great she is back to some normality.
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“She is happy, brave and strong, and takes everything in her stride. She means everything to us.”
- To donate, visit justgiving.com/crowdfunding/mercy-cuthbertson.
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