In Loving Memory
Of Gracie McCall

Gracie's Story

At two years old, Gracie was diagnosed with an aggressive brain tumour. Her symptoms began with a virus which cleared up after a visit to the GP. However one day Gracie’s parents discovered she had experienced a seizure down her left hand side. After being rushed to Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital, Gracie was diagnosed with an AT/RT (Atypical Teratoid Rhabdoid Tumour), a very rare, aggressive tumour on her right frontal lobe.

Only around four to six children per year are diagnosed in the UK with this type of tumour, and survival rates for children under three are pretty dire – around 10%. Outcomes are often poor because children cannot survive the aggressive treatment.

After emergency brain surgery, Gracie’s parents discussed a treatment plan with the consultant which entailed nine rounds of IV chemotherapy, lasting two to four days every two weeks, with six weeks of focal radiotherapy to the tumour bed providing there had been no spread of the cancer. If the cancer had spread, she would need to have high-dose chemotherapy with stem cell transplant.
Gracie’s treatment ended on the 3rd July 2014, however a routine check-up in 2015 revealed Gracie had three tumours on her brain and spine. Sadly, after bringing huge joy to her family and all her friends, Gracie gained her angle wings on Thursday 16th March 2017. Her generous parents are determined that her legacy should be that her memory lives on as an ambassador for Kidscan.