A brave little girl from Denton finally rang the bell to signal the end of 860 days of cancer treatment, accompanied by her entire school and family.
Eight-year-old Libby Singleton-Moss has been battling acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, a rare type of cancer that affects white blood cells. It’s meant that she’s been unable to do most things that little girls love, such as going to the playground or enjoying a normal school life.
But all that came to an end last week after she rang the bell at Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital to signal the end of her treatment. However, due to the coronavirus pandemic, she could only be accompanied by her parents.
Having had one of their own going through a tough time, her school, St John Fisher RC Primary School in Haughton Green, wanted to mark the occasion with a celebration.
So Libby, her parents, her twin brother Tom, older sister Pippa and grandparents, were all invited to be guests of honour at a special event held in the school playground.
There, in front of all of her friends and teachers, she once again rang the bell, before being showered with love and gifts.
Her local Morrisons donated toys and treats for her and her family, while each and every student in the school wrote a personalised card for her to keep forever.
For her mum Debs it’s been a tough journey that has seen endless doctors’ appointments and hospital stays.
“Lots of people ask you how you do it, but you don’t have a choice. You’re thrown into a world where you don’t have a choice and you meet so many other parents in similar situations and you come across amazing, brave children and you see them smiling and overcoming the most horrendous treatments.
“There’s a part of you that thinks if they can be this strong and resilient then as a parent that’s what you need to do, you just get on with it.”
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Both parents reserved special praise for Libby’s school, who they say have gone above and beyond during such a difficult time for the family.
“I don’t think we could’ve done it without them,” explained Debs.
“What the school have done have recognised that it’s not just about Libby, it’s about the welfare and care of her siblings as well and for us.”
“You wouldn’t get this at any other school,” added her dad Paul.
It was an emotional day with plenty of tears shed, by both parents and teachers alike. Her parents say that the whole experience has changed her personality.
“The confidence she’s built has been amazing,” said Paul.
“The only good thing to come out of the cancer is that she’s come out of herself. She had no choice really, she has so much confidence now, but wouldn’t say boo to a goose beforehand.”
John Fisher deputy head Robert Tanti led proceedings and was delighted to see the outpouring of support for Libby and her family.
He said: “It wasn’t easy, but we wanted to make sure that Libby got a very special day. We’re very proud of the courage that she has shown through this whole journey. It’s been a true inspiration for the whole school community.
“We do believe we’re a family here, so when we first heard Libby was unwell it affected one of our own. When we see the children as our own we want the best for them and the children here make it very easy.
“Her class have been super and very supportive. They’ve seen her come and go, looking different, she’s lost weight and her hair and they’ve done nothing but try to make her feel special. That’s a big comfort for her mum and dad.”
Headteacher Mandy Harris was unable to attend the event but watched all of the celebrations via video link and was delighted with how everything went.
With Libby finally coming to the end of her treatment, her parents have asked how she would like to celebrate.
Far be it from wishing for a trip to Disneyland, or to meet her favourite celebrity, Libby simply said that she wanted to have breakfast at Frankie and Benny’s with her family.
Libby's fight:
• 860 days of treatment
• More than 100 nights in hospital
• Over 300 blood tests
• 12 blood transfusions
• 20 lumbar punctures
• Weeks of being fed through a tube
• Hair fell out and grew back three times
• Put under anaesthetic 36 times
• Had to learn to walk again
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