Schoolgirl says she will beat bone cancer to fulfil dream

Molly Cuddihy, 16, has spent the last 12 months in Glasgow's Royal Hospital for Sick Children Glasgow fighting off the extremely rare metastatic Ewing's sarcoma and a deadly bacterium infection.

Now, a year on since she was diagnosed, the Clydeview Academy pupil faces major surgery next week to remove the primary source of the cancer in her ribcage.

Molly, who is studying for her Highers and has won a place at an international summer school at Oxford University, has also inspired a fundraising campaign set up by friends.

Inspirational Molly, from Doune Gardens, said: "Yes, it is devastating and terrible to have cancer but you have to stay positive.

"If anything it has been a real learning experience for me.

"I have always wanted to be a doctor, even before this, but this makes me even more determined.

"I want to be a paediatrician and work in oncology.

"I will have so much understanding and I will know so much that can help.

"I could have taken a year off school but that would have set me back with medicine.

"My way of coping has been to ask lots of questions, to really understand what is going on and the doctors have been brilliant.

"They know I can take it in."

Despite relentless blocks of chemo, constant bouts of sickness, radiotherapy, invasive tests, treatments and surgery Molly sat both her prelims and her Nat 5 exams at the same time.

She tackled the likes of English, maths, Spanish, French and also faced the upheaval of a move when the Schiehallion ward was closed down.

Molly said: "I just kept on studying when I could, I was so focused. Everyone enjoyed supporting me. The doctors were coming in and out when I was studying and testing themselves!

"On the day I got my exams results by text message I was waiting for a taxi to take me to the Beatson for treatment and the nurses didn't want me to leave until they knew what my results were.

"When the text came through they were cheering and jumping about. I think I was first to take exams in that way.

"The invigilators came to the hospital.

"My school, honestly, have been amazing. Teachers have come out of their way, on the way home from school to tutor me.

"I can honestly say it that doesn't happen for kids from other areas. The teachers went above and beyond. I can't thank them enough.

On January 16 last year Molly and her close knit family's life changed when were told the devastating news about her illness.

Molly, her mum Maria, dad John and her older brother Daragh, 21, were stunned.

The teenager, then 15, had bone cancer in her ribcage, which presented itself as a mass on her side but had spread to her lungs and her spine.

She has faced many months of gruelling chemotherapy and radiotherapy to blast the cancer.

The cancer in her spine is inoperable and has been treated with radiotherapy.

On top of that there was the added complication of a bacterial infection contracted in hospital which threatened her life and Molly is still being treated for it.

Mum Maria, 51, said: "Everything changes, life just stops.

"But you can't change anything and have to get up and get on with it. You just have to face everything that is comes our way and stay positive.

"We have spent most of the year in hospital. Molly was supposed to get out for 16 day breaks between chemo but it never worked out like that, with the infection and other things. She was out for a wee while and that was it.

"We have had such incredible support from so many people.

"I am so proud of Molly. She sat her all her exams and she was in terrible pain at times.

"Everyone says the same, she always has a smile on her face, even when they are telling her the most awful news.

At the time of the diagnosis Molly could only think of others.

She said: "My brother and I have always been so close. He was working in France for a year and couldn't get over straight away. I really felt for him, it was hard.

"We have always been a really, really close family."

One of the most difficult parts for the fourth year pupil to handle was her absence from school.

Molly told the Tele: "I have always been a bit of a nerd. I don't mind admitting it, I have always loved school and all the learning, so that was the hardest part, missing school and not seeing everyone every day.

"I mean, I love my mum and it is great spending time with her but a 15-year-old wants to see her friends! A night at home and away from them is too long!"

Molly first went to her GP when she first showed signs of feeling unwell and had a swelling on her side.

She said: "I had lost my appetite and was losing weight. I had actually been at my GP for work experience so they knew when I went to the doctor there was something well."

After her doctor raised the alarm, Molly was rushed to hospital for tests and days later she was diagnosed.

A year to the day, Molly will face major surgery next week where medics will remove one of her ribs and replace it with a rod and remove surrounding tissue and muscle.

The surgeons will then remove tissue from her abdomen, in a procedure which is similar to a mastectomy.

Molly has nerve damage from treatment as well as extensive IV antibiotic treatment for the infection and she will face lifelong scans to monitor her spine for cancer.

She is continuing to study for Highers and is one of only 15 students in the world to be offered a place in a medicine summer school at Oxford.

Together with her friend Sara, who she met on the ward, they have decided to organise a charity ball to raise money for Glasgow's Royal Hospital for Sick Children.

Molly said: "There are so many children in there with terrible illnesses, in the renal unit and other places. We want to do it not just for the cancer ward.

"The doctors, nurses and staff are all amazing.

"The oncologist Dr Sastry walks on water for me. He has put the best team in place for my operation."

She also paid tribute to world leading Professor Brenda Gibson who is in overall charge of Schiehallion unit.

The caring hospital team even made sure beautiful Molly was able to go to her Christmas dance at Clydeview Academy.

They helped her with make up and everything she needed to get down to Gourock and back for 11.30pm.

She said: "It was great to make the Christmas dance as I had missed so much of school."

"It meant they had have to move everything and give medicines during the night instead. But they don't mind if it helps.

"When I came back the auxiliary had even put a water bottle in my bed because she knows I get cold."

Molly and her family are also overwhelmed by support from friends locally who have set up a fundraising page, with a total of £7,500 pledged so far.

Clydeview Academy and Notre Dame High have joined in the fundraising campaign.

The family also wanted to mention Molly's best friend Roan Anderson and his family who have been busy fundraising.

Roan's older brother Luke and his band Travelling Jukebox busked in Glasgow, raising £1,200 in just one day, and his mum Brenda, a local artist, donated a painting.

Molly added: "It makes you feel very humble when people want to help."

Mum Maria said: "We would like to thank everyone who has supported us."

The family would like to thanks all the following organisations for donations.

MacDonald & Co. Charitable Foundation £1000,
Travelling Jukebox busking £1195.96, 
Clydeview Staff Christmas Card Fund £105, 
Clydeview Academy Pupils Non Uniform Day £750,
VR Scotland £75, 
Notre Dame High School Carol Singing in Spinnaker £240, 
National Tyres and Autocare £200 in vouchers for Argos,

Luke Anderson painting £150 
Gerry McDade, Ana Inga, Tonino’s Restaurant package £100, 
Donation from Little Wooden Signs by Audrey and Emily Lepick for prizes on the final day of the 12 Days of Christmas raffle. 

If anyone wishes to support the charity appeal, visit Molly's Fundraiser page on Facebook by visiting /https://www.facebook.com/MollysFundGourock/