A family has been left devastated after a mother and her young daughter were diagnosed with cancer only months apart.
Janne Fitzsimmons, 49, was diagnosed with advanced gynaecological cancer when she visited her GP at the end of last year for the migraines she started to get.
But while her loved ones were only just beginning to get to terms with the ‘devoted’ mother-of-three’s illness, doctors found an ‘extremely rare’ ependymoma tumour in her 12-year-old daughter’s neck.
Holly, who was described as a ‘ray of sunshine’, had been suffering with neck pain and needed a ‘highly complex and risky’ eight-hour surgery to remove the cancer that could leave her paralysed.
Mother and daughter are set to begin gruelling treatments at the same time at The Christie in Manchester in what has been described a ‘very unusual bond that nobody would ever want to have with their child’.
Janne is undergoing a major abdominal surgery while still undergoing further chemotherapy and Holly is taking on six weeks of intensive daily radiotherapy for any residual malignant cells.
Before this, doctors had to remove her vertebrae and cut through her spinal column to remove the tumour, with a warning to the parents that it could be ‘touch and go’.
Thankfully, Holly came out the other side but needs rehabilitation to regain mobility in her body and tackle the ongoing nerve pain and numbness she feels.
Janne Fitzsimmons, 49, and Holly, 12, have both been diagnosed with cancer only months apart
Janne is undergoing a major abdominal surgery while still undergoing further chemotherapy and Holly is taking on six weeks of intensive daily radiotherapy
Holly had been suffering with neck pain and needed a ‘highly complex and risky’ eight-hour surgery to remove the ‘extremely rare’ tumour that could leave her paralysed
A close family friend told Manchester Evening News that the double blow has been ‘horrendous’.
Eleanor Davey said: ‘Janne was diagnosed and started chemotherapy and then Holly, who is just a ray of sunshine, was rushed into emergency surgery.
‘It has been very tough on the family. It is everyone’s worst nightmare, especially that operation for Holly where it was touch and go.
‘Janne and Andrew [her husband] are being so brave. It’s very surreal.
‘Janne and Holly now have this very unusual bond that nobody would ever want to have with their child.’
Desperate loved ones have set up a GoFundMe for the overwhelmed family since their personal finances have taken a hit as the self-employed parents are unable to work and care for Holly at the same time.
The fundraiser said: ‘Janne lost both her parents to cancer in her 20s and so her diagnosis has been devastating for the entire family.
‘Throughout this time, Janne has continued her own difficult treatment while staying by Holly’s side in hospital every step of the way,’ but she now has to face the ‘long recovery’ of her own surgery in a different hospital.
Doctors had to remove Holly’s vertebrae and cut through her spinal column to remove the tumour, with a warning to the parents that it could be ‘touch and go’
‘Janne and Holly now have this very unusual bond that nobody would ever want to have with their child,’ a close friend said
Holly will need to stay in Manchester with her father for the duration of her treatment and ‘the emotional, physical, and logistical toll on the whole family will doubtless continue to be immense’.
‘The two parents will need to also be looking out for the physical and emotional well-being of their two other children whilst they are all dealing with this double health crisis.’
