Charlie never complained about having cancer, but she wished no child ever had to go through cancer treatment like she did. I’ve promised her I’ll keep fighting to find a cure.
- Mel, Charlie’s mum
Charlie was a fun-loving little girl with an irrepressible sense of humour. Strong and determined, her courage inspired all those who knew her.
Symptoms
Charlie was just eight months old when her mother noticed a bruise under her right eye.
Diagnosis
Charlie was seen by a doctor and referred for more tests. With each new scan, Mel's anxiety grew. Eventually, the doctors gave her the shocking news: Charlie had Stage 4 neuroblastoma. Her little body was riddled with more than 20 tumours.
They were in the orbit of her eye, in her liver, arms, legs, pelvis, jaw, cheekbones... even her bone marrow. I remember asking: "Is she going to die?"
- Mel, Charlie's mum
Treatment
Charlie went through six cycles of chemotherapy. By the end of six months, it appeared that the treatment was working. But sadly, it was not to last.
Relapse
Charlie relapsed three times between 2011 and 2014. Despite her ordeal, she endured everything with a courage that never failed to astound everyone who met her.
Charlie passes
As strong and as determined as she was, and despite the best efforts of her medical team, family, friends and the whole community, Charlie passed away. Cancer was the one battle she couldn’t win.
Charlie never complained about having cancer, but she wished no child had to go through cancer treatment like she did. I promised her I’ll keep fighting to find a cure.
- Mel, Charlie’s mum
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