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Wales Online
Wales Online
National
Jessica Walford

Mum's heartbreak after her little girl faces second cancer fight

Little Lacie Lane has been through more in seven years than most people go through in a lifetime.

Aged just three, Lacie was diagnosed with leukemia.

Four years later, and the Milton Primary School pupil is still battling cancer - and is now taking part in a clinical trial to try and stop it returning.

For mum Natasha Lane, 34, it's been a struggle to watch her daughter in pain.

Lacie in hospital (Natasha Lane)

Natasha, who lives in Newport , said: "She was first diagnosed with it in February 2015.

"She had an infection in November then she started to get better. But in January, she was getting very lethargic and wasn't eating or drinking.

"I thought she was anemic and took her to the doctors to ask to do a blood test.

"That's where it all kicked off.

Lacie outside Great Ormond Street Hospital in London (Natasha Lane)

"We were in the Royal Gwent on the Monday, and then transferred to rainbow ward at Noah's Ark Children's Hospital for Wales on the Tuesday.

"She started chemotherapy straight away.

"It was very hard on her and us all too. She didn't understand in the beginning. But after three or four months of it, she adapted really weel. She just took it all in her stride."

After two-and-a-half years of treatment, Lacie was given the all-clear on June 6, 2017.

But just over a year later, the family would be devastated again.

"On June 27, 2018 we were at a regular clinic appointment and I asked for another blood test and it came back that she had relapsed," Natasha said.

Lacie has shown tremendous bravery (Natasha Lane)

"That was hard. I was eight-and-a-half months pregnant at the time, but the baby spurred us all on to keep going.

"Lacie said: 'It's not fair. Why does this always happen to me?'

"Because of the way she relapsed, it was when the leukaemia would come back, not if.

"She needs a bone marrow transplant, but no donor has been found."

What is leukaemia?

Now Lacie is part of a clinical trial at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London, where her blood will be sent away and genetically modified to detect and kill cancer cells.

Natasha hopes it will mean Lacie will be cancer-free, and finally able to live a normal and healthy life.

"We hope it won't come back, but there's no certainty," she said.

"It is heartbreaking, but Lacie is not your typical child. She has been doing this since she was a young girl. This is her life.

"She has a smile through everything, and she knows her own body. As long as I listen to her, we're OK.

"She doesn't let any of this phase her. She's also always there for other kids going through the same thing.

"I'm unbelievably proud."

A fundraiser has been set up to help Lacie and her family. You can donate to it here .

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