Girl, 2, misdiagnosed with 'viral infection' actually has extremely rare form of cancer

·Contributor, Yahoo News UK

14 November 2019 at 1:39 pm

A family have launched an appeal after their two-year-old who was wrongly diagnosed with a highly rare form of cancer - after originally being told she had a viral infection

The parents of Isla Chapman were told by doctors that she had a virus.

But Amanda and Ben Chapman, from Plymouth, Devon, later discovered that she had acute myeloid leukaemia - a rare cancer of the white blood cells that only affects a handful of children every year.

Little Isla was transferred to Bristol Children's Hospital where she is still being treated and will need a bone marrow transplant after Christmas.

Relatives of Mr and Mrs Chapman - who are stunned by the revelation - have launched an appeal to help support the young family.

So far, more than £9,000 has been raised for the family on a GoFundMe page created by Maxine Walter and Aaron Chapman, Dale's twin brother - a total that smashes the initial target of just £1,500.

Maxine said: "They took Isla to Derriford Hospital because her face kept swelling up and were told at the time that it was probably an allergic reaction to something she had eaten or had been in contact with.

"They were then told it was just a viral infection and it will go down in a couple of weeks.

"But Amanda insisted that Isla had blood tests and they came back saying she had a low red blood count leading to the doctors discovering she had acute myeloid leukaemia.

"Isla has already undergone weeks of intensive chemotherapy and there will be more to come. She needs to have a bone marrow transplant which will probably be after Christmas.

Maxine added: "Isla's going through a lot but she has been her usual bright and lovely self, she is still so excited to see people.

"The family need support as both parents are off work and Isla's brother is only aged one himself.

"Staying in Bristol is very expensive and the whole thing is obviously very difficult for them so they appreciate everyone's help so much."