A brave and truly remarkable little Blantyre girl. Inspirational Fearne Stewart (5) is part of a new trial aimed at effectively treating lymphoblastic leukaemia.
Fearne was just four years old when she was diagnosed in April 2023. Now 5 years old, she is currently in remission and will continue with chemotherapy for another nine months until June 2025.
Spending time previously at the Royal Hospital for Children, back in 2023 she had suffered several weeks of symptoms including bruises, exhaustion and pains in her legs which made her struggle to walk, as well as experiencing night sweats, a sore stomach, weight loss, pale skin and repeated infections over a short time. Hospital tests showed Fearne had become seriously unwell. Her parents read an article on Cancer Research UK which prompted them to get medical advice.
Fearne is pictured in hospital, where even facing such adversity and difficult times, her beautiful smile shines through.
Gary said: “Fearne was only four at the time; we told her that she had a bug in her blood and that the doctors were going to make her better.”
“Our son Joseph was still a baby then so Fearne’s mum and I had to take turns sleeping at her bedside in hospital while the other parent looked after Joseph. Fearne had beautiful long hair when she was diagnosed and we had to explain to her that the chemotherapy treatment she needed meant that she would lose her hair.”
“We thought Fearne would be very upset but actually she adapted well. When she felt well enough Fearne was first in the playroom at hospital and we decided early on that if she was fine then we had to be too.”
Fearne is on the UK arm of the AllTogether-1 clinical trial an international study funded by Cancer Research UK involving patients from countries across Europe and is one of the first in Scotland to take part. The overall aim is to give each child or young adult the right amount of treatment to cure their leukaemia and stop it coming back, while keeping the side effects as low as possible.
But things are on the up. Fearne started school in Blantyre this term, watched by proud parents Gary and Paula and little brother Joseph. You can see how happy she looks being at school!
Gary, continued: “We’re so proud of Fearne, of the resilience our daughter has shown and of her determination during some of the most difficult times in hospital. She’s a chatterbox and is enjoying primary one at school. She has joined the Rainbow guides and started swimming lessons. She’s come so far in a year.”
There was another milestone as Fearne was the guest of honour recently when she was excited to carry out the official opening of Cancer Research UK’s new superstore in Glasgow with brother Joseph and parents Paula and Gary (pictured).
Around 320 children and young people are diagnosed with cancer in Scotland each year and we’re sure they are all as equally incredible as Fearne. It is only known by those families themselves how difficult this is. We think the entire Stewart family are very special. Touched by this moving local story, we’d like to offer the family a little something, especially for Fearne, if they want to get in touch?
Meantime, we hope you’ll join us in sharing this article and wishing this wonderful, brave little girl the very best for the remainder of her treatment and of course a speedy recovery back to full health. All the best Fearne!
