A SEVEN year old Irvinestown schoolgirl who in the last three years has battled both bone cancer and then acute lymphoblastic leukaemia has been described by her mother as a “force of nature.”
Eloise Singleton, who received a bone marrow transplant in May, is currently in the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children where she has been since January, but her parents Ryan and Claire Singleton are hopeful that she will return home soon.
Mr. and Mrs. Singleton have always focused on the triumphs of their children Michael and Eloise who share an unbreakable bond. But they have also been forced to acknowledge great difficulties, too, and when Eloise was diagnosed with Ewing Sarcoma, a type of bone cancer, in 2014 and acute lymphoblastic leukaemia a year and a half later they faced wrenching uncertainty.
The day after her fourth birthday Eloise started chemotherapy and had surgery to remove a tumour in her left femur. After a year, tests showed that there was no longer evidence of disease and although her mobility was affected she was able to attend St. Paul’s Primary School. 
“We were always wary that the cancer could come back so we couldn’t be complacent no matter how well she seemed to be doing,” Mrs. Singleton told The Impartial Reporter.
A year and a half after treatment ended Eloise had just returned to school after the Christmas break but her parents noticed that she appeared more tired than usual and was complaining of feeling cold. 
“We noticed she had a couple of bruises on her legs but she said they were from a game she had been playing at school. I knew they could be a sign of leukaemia,” she said. 
After being admitted to South West Acute Hospital, Eloise was transferred to the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children where she learned she had acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, the most common type of childhood cancer.
The “deceptively simple looking treatment plan” turned out to be much worse than anything Eloise had gone through before, said Mrs. Singleton.
“It was clear by this time that she would not recover unless she got a bone marrow transplant. Michael put himself forward to get tested as a potential donor and was disappointed when results showed he wasn’t a match.”
The family received the news on May 11 that a donor had been found and the transplant was scheduled for June 1 at Bristol Children’s Hospital. They had to leave for the hospital straight away as Eloise needed to undergo eight sessions of radiotherapy. 
“The consultant explained to Eloise that she would be in isolation for at least six weeks and unfortunately her brother wouldn’t be allowed into the room during that time as he was under the age of 12. That was the only time she cried because she was going to miss him so much,” said Mrs. Singleton.
“He was allowed to see her through a small window but wasn’t allowed in. Eloise had her seventh birthday in hospital, the nurses made it special by decorating the room with laminated pictures of her favourite things. I bought her the largest unicorn balloon I could find,” said Mrs. Singleton.
She was well enough to be discharged from Bristol back to Belfast’s Children’s Hospital on July 23 and even got to ring the ‘end of treatment bell’ on her way out. She flew back to Belfast by Air Ambulance. Her time in Bristol Hospital was the only period she was away from Belfast since January.
Eloise enjoys music and has been learning how to play the ukulele. She even brought it with her to Bristol where she took part in weekly musical therapy sessions. She has composed some songs with her father who bought a ukulele too so he could play with her.
“Eloise has an unwavering belief that she will get better, she had lots of plans and wants to be a nurse when she grows up but not one who gives injections she says.”
The family may never find out who Eloise’s bone marrow donor was as there is a confidentiality clause which prevents any contact for up to two years. But they know she is a female who lives in America. 
“Eloise’s main issues now are to do with feeding and that is what is keeping her in hospital right now. The doctors are happy with her progress. We don’t know what the future holds but Eloise is a force of nature and so determined she has kept us going through it all,” said Mrs. Singleton, who has paid tribute to all those who are supporting Eloise during this time. “We would like to emphasise how important blood and platelets transfusions have been and would encourage people to become blood donors and young people in particular to register with the Anthony Nolan Trust as they could one day save someone’s life,” she said.