Emma Cooper’s daughter Madeleine was diagnosed with a germ cell tumour aged four. She tells us how Madeleine’s love for gymnastics helped her both physically and mentally during treatment.
Madeleine, now seven, has always been a very active child, with a special love for gymnastics. She began training aged two, following in the footsteps of her siblings,Eddie, Louise and Heidi.
In late 2019, she’d been complaining of pain in her coccyx after a fall on her bike. After three separate trips to the GP, my husband Scott and I had been assured her pain was due to night terrors and the bruise on her bottom ‘was nothing to worry about’.
However, continued distress and a refusal to even put on her leotard or participate in classes prompted us to take her to the emergency GP, who referred us to the children’s assessment unit at Royal Stoke Hospital. Still convinced she’d broken her coccyx, we were stunned when we were referred to the doctor for ‘lumps and bumps’, and subsequent scans revealed a grapefruit-sized tumour.
Three weeks after her fourth birthday, Madeleine was officially diagnosed with a stage 4 germ cell tumour, which had spread to her lungs. We were shocked and paralysed with fear hearing this news, and the array of emotions and questions we had were overwhelming. We asked ourselves if we’d ever see our daughter grow up, attend school or even compete in gymnastics competitions.
After we met our amazing oncologist at Birmingham, Dr David Hobin, who told us the tumour was treatable, Madeleine had a central line fitted and embarked on the first of six cycles of chemotherapy. We wanted life to be as normal as possible for her during this time and she was adamant she wanted to continue with her gymnastics, where appropriate. In discussion with her fabulous oncology team, we continued to take her to classes on the condition we were mindful of her ‘wigglies’ (central line) and observed exceptional infection control.
Madeleine attended when she could, even attempting new and more difficult skills, and was so determined to keep her fitness up. Undoubtedly, exercise not only helped her physical strength, but also her appetite. Her weekly weigh-ins showed her gaining weight, meaning interventions such as an NG feeding tube weren’t necessary. Meanwhile, her gym club rallied around her, with owner Adele Booth organising a fundraiser for Madeleine to go on a family holiday to Florida. They held a Valentine’s ball for her, where she lit up the room with her moves!
Midway through treatment, COVID-19 struck, with all classes suspended. Social distancing became something everyone was subject to, not just oncology families. But, thanks to the charity Molly Ollys Wishes providing a bar and beam for her to train at home, Madeleine attended virtual gym and conditioning sessions throughout lockdown, even moving up groups!
Once chemo was complete in April 2020, Madeleine had surgery to remove the residual mass and her coccyx. Just three weeks after surgery and recuperation, she competed in an online club competition! Gymnastics has given her enormous strength during her journey, in terms of both fitness and support. Her coaches and teammates have been a pillar of strength, as have the wider gymnastics community, who follow and encourage her on Instagram.
She’s just celebrated three years remission, and competed in her first regional competition, where she was awarded team silver in the under 9s advanced girls category.
Madeleine is hopeful her gymnastics will continue for many years. She’s recently added a back flip and front handspring to her repertoire of skills and never ceases to amaze her medical team with her tenacity and dynamism in the gym!
From Contact magazine issue 99 - Summer 2023
