EXCLUSIVE I thought my sporty 11-year-old girl had growing pains... it turned out to be an aggressive bone cancer
Isabelle Vella, of Cambridgeshire, was once a 'carefree, adventurous and happy' child who frequently enjoyed partaking in triathlon events and spending time with her friends.
While she had begun to complain to her parents of nagging pains in her leg in April, her parents assured her that it was simply 'growing pains' or a torn ligament due to her triathlon training.
But the reality was to be far worse. Just days later, following a trip to the GP and further X-ray, both her and her parents' lives were 'blown apart' at the devastating news that Isabelle, then limping, had Osteochondroma, a rare bone cancer.
Affecting up to 35 children in the UK each year, the condition often starts at the end of the long bones, where new bone tissue forms as a young person grows.
Speaking about the devastating diagnosis the family received in April, Isabelle's father, Al Vella, told MailOnline: 'My wife took her to the doctor while I was at work. We just couldn't believe it, my wife collapsed at the hospital. We were both in pieces on the phone.
'Isabelle is very bright, she knew straight away what it was. The ironic thing is that prior to the appointment she had asked us "is it cancer?" and we had told her not to be so ridiculous.'
With Isabelle's ongoing recovery set to take several years, her devastated parents have now set up a GoFundMe page to help contribute towards specialist therapies, possible prosthetics, wheelchairs, equipment and even the high likelihood that they will need to adapt their home.
Isabelle is currently receiving her second round of chemotherapy treatment and at the start of August faces either an amputation of her right leg or several complex limb salvage operations in which as much of her leg as possible will be saved using bone grafts or metal implants.
Despite her intense treatment and frequent hospital visits, Mr Al Vella said that his little girl has continued to 'remain smiling'. As an avid drummer, she even took her Grade three drumming exam just one week after her diagnosis, achieving a Merit grade.
Her father added: 'She won't be able to do a triathlon anymore or any contact sports going forward. I have no doubt that she'll find a wheelchair sport in the future, maybe even go towards something like the Paralympics.
'There are so many unknowns at the moment. She's had her ovaries removed and frozen which they can hopefully put back in later in life and a peg in her stomach to feed her.
'She has a massive zest for life but what has been taken away from her has completely destroyed us. We have no option but to carry on and be strong for her.'
Meanwhile, her heartbroken mother, Faye Vella, said that while she worries how her daughter will hope with the 'gruelling' rehabilitation process, Isabelle 'surprises us all of the time' with her resilience.
Describing how she 'naively' believed her daughter's pain would only be something minor, she added: 'We get our strength from her. She is one of a kind. She is scared but she knows that she needs to go through this.
'I know it sounds silly but it was such a shock to see how poorly the chemo made her. It is devastating seeing your lovely child confined to her bed and not even be able to talk because they feel so ill. Just totally heartbreaking.'
Praising the 'incredible' NHS staff at Addenbrooke's Hospital that have continued to treat Isabelle, Ms Vella added: 'When Isabelle was diagnosed I couldn't believe what I was hearing. I don't really remember too much about it, but I asked them to look after Isabelle while I tried to make sense of it.
'The staff literally picked me up the floor and looked after us both.'
As the family anxiously prepare for the future ahead and attempt to navigate their young daughter's new reality, Mr and Ms Vella say they are continuing to strive for the 'happiest, most active life possible' for their little 'pocket rocket'.
Mr Vella said: 'This tumour has completely changed our world but we are so grateful for Isabelle's quirky and funny nature, she is just a force.
'She chooses not to use the word cancer, calling it Voldermort, a nod to Harry Potter. Despite the pain she's in, she is just so joyful and happy and manages to laugh and smile at things.
'She just wanted to be a triathlete who played the drums. We can't do this alone.'
Mr Vella, who said that he had never even heard of Osteochoma prior to his daughter's diagnosis, also issued an urgent warning to parents that may hold reservations or concerns regarding their children's 'aches and pains'.
He added: 'My advice to others would be if you have any concerns, get it seen to.
'Any aches or pains with your kids, you just never know what it really could be.
'Keep pursuing, if you think something could be wrong, don't give up in getting an answer. We never could have imagined this could have been the outcome and are so glad we got it checked when we did'.
If you want to help Isabelle and her family, visit her GoFundMe.
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