Baby celebrates first birthday cancer-free after finishing treatment at Royal Hospital for Children in Glasgow

A baby has celebrated her first birthday cancer-free by ringing the end-of-treatment bell at the Royal Hospital for Children in Glasgow.

Emilie Sime, from Uddingston, turned one in October after months of treatment for a brain tumour on the Schiehallion Ward that was diagnosed when she was just three months old.

Her mum, Kayleigh Sime said she was “overwhelmed with emotion” as Emilie rang the bell.

The 31-year-old first noticed something was wrong with her newborn in January 2024.

Emilie post surgery NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde via Supplied

“We were set to go on holiday to Tenerife as a family, but I wasn’t content with the way Emilie was behaving”, she said.

“Her movements were really odd. I knew something was wrong, and I wanted her checked out, especially given that we had plans to go to a different country. I needed to know she would be ok.”

Kayleigh and her husband, Blake, took Emilie to University Hospital Wishaw, where she was transferred to the RHC. Doctors suspected seizures and carried out an EEG and MRI scan.

“That’s when they discovered that Emilie had a brain tumour. We were completely shocked,” Kayleigh said.

Emilie rang the bell before her first birthday. NHS via NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde

“Emilie was admitted to Ward 3A, and plans were made to remove the tumour. We were introduced to consultant neurosurgeon, Mrs Emer Campbell and everything started moving from there.

“Emilie needed another MRI, was booked for surgery, and a line was fitted so that she could receive her chemotherapy.”

After surgery, Emilie spent three weeks in Ward 3A before moving to the Schiehallion Ward, where she received chemotherapy every two weeks from March to September, staying three to five days each time.

“Emilie is a wee fighter”
Kayleigh Sime

“It was such an intense time, but the hospital staff made life easier,” Kayleigh said. “They are amazing. I couldn’t fault one person.

“Everyone including facilities staff, doctors, nurses, the list goes on, made us feel welcome and kept us company during the long days. We saw the nurses so often that we started to make friendships with them and we’d be excited to see who was on shift and catch up with them. I cannot thank them enough.”

Kayleigh described her daughter as resilient and full of life throughout her treatment.

“Emilie is a wee fighter, and she is our crazy baby. Perhaps it was because she was going through this at such a young age, but she just seemed to have so much resilience and continued to be a wild child. She just kept going and was happy all of the time. She would love the attention from all of the hospital staff too.”

Emilie’s treatment was expected to last 12 months, but scans in September showed her cancer was gone.

“We couldn’t believe it when the medical team told us in September that Emilie’s cancer was gone and that she could stop treatment earlier than planned if she had her three-month check-ups. I was so shocked and overwhelmed that I sat there like a robot. It was unbelievable that our girl was ok.

“We got the news in September, just before Emilie’s first birthday in October. We certainly had something to celebrate.

“We couldn’t have done it without the staff at the RHC. Thank you.”

Mrs Emer Campbell, consultant neurosurgeon, said: “We have multidisciplinary teams across Ward 3A and the Schiehallion Ward who all work together well to support patients and their families, so it is great to hear such kind words from Kayleigh about the care they received during Emilie’s time with us.

“We’re delighted to see Emilie respond so well to treatment and to be thriving. Now it’s time for her to go and enjoy time with her family and friends. We look forward to hearing her updates.”