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I'Ve Survived a Heart Transplant, Kidney Failure & Pneumonia ..Now I'Ll Beat Cancer

Posted on: Saturday, 1 October 2005, 09:00 CDT

By GEOFFREY LAKEMAN

LITTLE Hannah Clarke won a bravery award yesterday after surviving THREE life-threatening illnesses - and aims to go on and beat cancer.

The 12-year-old has battled a heart transplant, pneumonia and kidney failure before being hit by the disease.

As she was presented with a Transplant Sports Association gold medal, her mum Elizabeth said: "Hannah has suffered more than any child should in her short life. Now we have another fight on our hands."

Hannah was 10 months old when she was diagnosed with heart problems. At two she was one of the youngest people ever to have a transplant.

She fought her way back to health but was hit by blood poisoning and pneumonia.

Doctors discovered they were due to kidney failure and she was put on lifesaving drugs. At seven her parents were told she had lymph proliferative disease, a rare cancer that affects the glands, blood and immune system.

She had chemotherapy at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London.

When her blonde hair started falling out in clumps she just giggled and told her mum: "It's not important."

Elizabeth said: "She has smiled through everything. She is a very special little girl.

"The chemo was risky because of the pressure it put on her heart and kidneys but Hannah just took it all on the chin."

Elizabeth and husband Paul, 42, of Mountain Ash, Glamorgan, also have Aimee, 15, and Daniel, nine. Paul said: "We hold our breath until we know she's OK. It's a waiting game."

Source: Daily Mirror

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