It has been a whirlwind of emotion for the family of resilient tot Rosie Brown, who is fighting a rare brain tumour.
Rosie, who turns two in June, was diagnosed with an anaplastic ependymoma on March 26 this year after months of unexplained sickness spells.
She was immediately rushed for emergency surgery during which doctors put a drain in her head to prevent her having a seizure.
During a second operation, surgeons managed to remove the majority of the tumour but, because it had attached to the brain stem, which controls the heartbeat, part of it had to be left to protect Rosie’s brain function.
We previously told how her loving parents Alex and Gary Brown have been left lost for words by the generosity and kindness of their community – who have rallied to raise more than £13,500 to help them.
They now await news of where Rosie will be receiving an eight-week course of lifesaving proton beam therapy.
“It’s been a crazy few weeks and we’ve not been able to take it all in,” said Gary. “We still can’t believe it’s true.”
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Alex’s family decided to start a JustGiving to help with the living costs while Rosie receives treatment, which is likely to take place Florida.
The NHS will pay for the flights and accommodation for Rosie and one parent, along with her treatment.
Alex intends to go with her and it is hoped Gary will receive NHS funding to go over as well.
The mum said: “When we were told about America my first thought was we are not made of money.
“We are just a normal family from Tullichewan, how much is this going to cost?
“That’s when they told us the treatment, the flights and the accommodation would be paid for and relief just ran through me – I felt like we actually had a chance to fight this.”
However, the couple will have to sacrifice their wages and pay living costs for eight weeks.
They also have to make the decision about what is best for their seven-year-old son Rhuari.
“If we don’t take him then we will pay for someone to bring him across,” said Gary.
“It’s been hard for him. We’ve had to explain that not everyone who has cancer will go to heaven.”
Alex added: “We have been really honest with him and told him everything.
“We were supposed to be going on a family holiday with friends to Lanzarote and we’ve had to cancel that.
“He has just been great though. For seven years of age, you don’t realise just how resilient children are.”
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Alex and Gary said they are trying to remain positive, despite not knowing what the next few months could hold.
“It was so hard when we found out not to think the worst things but you don’t want to think about it because you want to keep things positive.
“We just want what’s best for her. It’s going to be a long road. We know that.”
Proton beam therapy is now also available on the NHS in England, however the clinic in Manchester is the first of its kind in the UK meaning there is an extremely high waiting list for the treatment.
The family have also praised the “amazing” support of the staff at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow.
“The staff and everyone we have spoken to at the hospital have been brilliant, every single one of them,” said Gary.
Alex said: “Since we walked through the doors, they have all been amazing. No one has done us a bad turn.
“I thanked them because they stopped and listened to us as parents, who know our daughter best, and they took us seriously.”
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While the family wait to hear what their next steps will be, the community of Alexandria have been hard at work fundraising in their honour.
Alex’s brother raffled his Old Firm ticket, while her uncle is selling his “prized possession” a signed Celtic picture.
Friends are planning a ladies night and local bowling clubs, where Gary is a regular player, have been holding raffles.
“I went to the hairdresser and the guy gave me £100,” said Gary.
“I didn’t know what to say.
“I just keep thinking, everyone is doing this for the nobodies who stay in Tullichewan. I just can’t wrap my head around it,” said Alex.
“I just have no words. Thanks will never be enough. When you donate to these kind of things you don’t think about how much that actually means to people and how much it helps.
“It’s not until you’re on the receiving end that you realise.”
