When Millie Cowan was at her lowest, having gone through surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, immunotherapy and losing her hair, the one thing her family could count on to cheer her up was a good "knock knock" joke.
Millie has just turned 5 and is relishing starting school tomorrow, but her mum, Carole, admits it’s a day her daughter may not have reached.
She said Millie had been in and out of Dunedin Hospital for about three months with high fevers and a large growth on her neck.
The lump, about the size of an orange, turned out to be a tumour.
"But that was only the tip of the iceberg, because the tumour was right up her left side."
It was metastatic neuroblastoma — a nerve cancer. She was sent to Christchurch Hospital for treatment.
Mrs Cowan said it was "touch and go" right from the beginning.
Millie’s treatment lasted 18 months and involved surgery to remove the tumours and half her left kidney, 80 days of chemotherapy, 15 rounds of radiation therapy under general anaesthetic, and immunotherapy.
"They called her a miracle girl because she survived even though the odds were stacked against her.
"It was a pretty frightening time for the family."
Millie said she felt "really yucky" at times and the only things that kept her spirits up were the toys and the "knock knock" jokes told by one of the doctors.
The doctors instilled such a good sense of humour that when her hair fell out, she thought it was funny.
"Mum said I’m a cutey pie with or without hair. That made me feel better, too."
Mrs Cowan said Millie was now in remission, but there was a 40% chance of recurrence.
The family would tackle that hurdle if necessary, she said.
Millie starts at St Clair School tomorrow and already has her school bag packed and her outfit chosen — most likely something displaying Frozen characters.
Having not had the opportunity to go to kindergarten, Millie was most looking forward to making friends and playing with people her own age.
With a few "knock knock" jokes up her sleeve, it’s unlikely she will have any problems making new friends.
john.lewis@odt.co.nz
