Family from NSW goes to Germany to save the life of 16-year-old daughter who has cancer

A family has uprooted their lives in a desperate attempt to give their 16-year-old teen a chance to live after a ‘tsunami’ of cancerous growths took her life.

Isabella Betts, who has metastatic osteosarcoma, flew 10,000 miles to Düsseldorf in Germany this month with her parents and two siblings to receive groundbreaking life-saving treatment.

Due to her condition, she underwent four major lung surgeries, a shoulder reconstruction, and multiple chemotherapy treatments in the space of just two and a half years.

But despite the efforts – including immunotherapy and radiation therapy – a large lump in her lung remains and treatment options are no longer available in Australia.

Isabella’s aunt Bec Fraser said the teen’s cancer has spread to and persists in her lungs.

“Isabella (pictured undergoing radiation treatment in Germany) has always faced every challenge with courage and determination,” said her aunt, Ms Fraser.

“They say the ripple effect of cancer is horrible, it’s more like a tsunami that no one tells you about,” Ms Fraser said. 7News.

The shock diagnosis came just before Christmas in 2020 and she has been under the care of the specialist pediatric oncology staff at Westmead Hospital ever since.

“Isabella has always met every challenge with courage and determination that is truly inspiring and shows a commitment to school studies,” said Ms. Fraser.

Despite the ups and downs and feelings of isolation, the teenager continued to enjoy competitive swimming.

This despite the limited use of her left arm due to her shoulder surgery.

‘[She was] learning to drive and even starting her first part-time job,” her aunt added.

Meanwhile, Isabella’s condition did not improve after all the hospital treatment.

But then her mother Stephanie Betts discovered a person who had a similar condition to her daughter and had great results after a new treatment.

The patient had no detectable sign of cancer after treatment at a clinic in Germany.

The therapy uses biologics, nutrients and hypothermic treatment along with chemo, radiation and immunotherapy to destroy cancer cells.

Mother Stephanie Betts (pictured, right) discovered that someone had returned from Germany with great results after undergoing the new treatment

Ms Fraser said the miraculous result “excited” the family and gave them “hope”.

The family, friends and locals then raised money for flights to Germany and medical bills after the teen was accepted into the program.

Isabella’s family of five from Millthorpe in Central NSW flew with the talented para-athlete to support her while she underwent treatment.

Her parents, along with 13-year-old Millani and 10-year-old Felix, left for Germany on May 10.

The thought of being separated during this time was too stressful to bear, Ms. Fraser shared Yahoo News Australia.

A close friend then offered to pay for the return flights for all five – but the bills kept mounting, so Mrs Fraser started a GoFundMe page to help with costs.

A close friend then offered to pay for round-trip flights for all five family members (pictured, from left to right, Isabella, the Easter Bunny, her brother Felix and sister Millani)

The crowdfunding initiative has so far raised $116,221, surpassing its goal of $110,000.

The family will be staying near the clinic in Germany for the next six weeks, while the two younger siblings attend school remotely.

Isabella’s hypothermic treatment will heat her body in an attempt to kill cancer cells while the body remains unharmed.

Ms. Fraser was keen to raise awareness of the new therapy in Germany with other cancer patients and their families.

“This treatment could be in Australia. These people come back cancer-free or with really positive results if they haven’t been able to find answers here,” she said.