'My baby was born with purple spots, doctors gave us double bad news'

A little girl whose purple spots turned out to be symptoms of two types of cancer is now thriving. Amelia Topa, six, was born a healthy 6lbs 12oz before doctors spotted purple spots all over her body.

The family were told it could be birthmarks, a liver problem or blueberry muffin syndrome - an infant born with purple spots - which can be linked to leukaemia. Following an ultrasound, lumbar puncture and MRI, her parents Kerri Paton, 27, and Igor Topa, 28, were told Amelia had two types of cancer - acute lymphoblastic leukaemia and acute myeloid leukaemia.

The newborn started chemotherapy at three weeks old, followed by a bone marrow transplant and was in remission after eight months of treatment. But six months later Kerri was told Amelia had relapsed in acute myeloid leukaemia.

She underwent chemotherapy again and a stem cell transplant - from an umbilical cord from the US. Amelia has now been in remission for the last five years and is "absolutely amazing".

Kerri, a supermarket worker, said: "Once she was in my arms I just cried. I was so happy. I didn't notice anything. The midwife noticed the spots all over her and went to get a doctor.

"I was told it could be one of three things. It could be birthmarks, something wrong with her liver or blueberry muffin syndrome which could be linked to leukaemia. I was quite upset. When we found out she had two types of cancer - it was awful."

Kerri met her partner Igor, a CNC operator, in February 2017 and the pair were shocked when they fell pregnant four weeks later. Kerri had a normal pregnancy and Amelia was born naturally on November 27, 2017 at 7.25pm.

But doctors immediately noticed something wasn't quite right and tests revealed Amelia had two types of cancer. She started on chemotherapy to get rid of the acute myeloid leukaemia.

Kerri said: "She was so little and tormented and going purple from crying. After the first round of chemotherapy the lumps and spots were gone."

Amelia had a bone marrow transplant in June 2018 and was cancer-free at eight months old. The family had hoped to find some normality after welcoming their second child, Oscar, now five, in October 2018.

But in February 2019, after a check up, Kerri was told Amelia's cancer had returned. Kerri said: "Igor was on the way with Amelia and I had a phone call to say 'I think best you can come in as well'. I just knew it had come back."

Doctors were able to find treatment for Amelia and she underwent three rounds of chemotherapy and a stem cell transplant in June 2019. Kerri said: "Watching your kid sick - it was horrible. It [the transplant] went smooth sailing."

Miraculously Amelia pulled through and is now a happy and healthy six-year-old. Kerri said: "She's slightly delayed. She's slightly delayed in her speech.

"She's just so funny. She's fiercely independent. She's very strong-willed. She looks like a normal child now.

"We got quite lucky that she was so young. She's so young she won't remember. Even though she went through cancer, her story doesn't end there."