The toddler who saved her big sister’s life: Girl, 10, is cancer-free after her sibling donated her bone marrow when she was just two – after playground collapse led to devastating diagnosis

A schoolgirl diagnosed with a rare blood cancer has now gone into remission thanks to a bone marrow donation from her sister.

Ruby Leaning, ten, was diagnosed with acute lymphocytic leukemia after collapsing on a school playground in Grimsby, Lincolnshire.

The young girl desperately needed a bone marrow transplant and after a series of tests it was discovered that her sister Mabel, five, was a perfect match.

The sisters’ grandmother, Amanda Fawcett, 56, says Ruby subsequently underwent the transplant and was later declared cancer-free – meaning Mabel ‘definitely saved Ruby’s life’.

She said: ‘She had the stem cell treatment and she actually got the stem cells from her sister Mabel because she was a perfect match.

‘We didn’t initially expect her to be a match, but luckily she was, so we just couldn’t believe our luck.

‘It was amazing, we were so grateful. Mabel’s treatment helped her go into remission. Mabel definitely saved her life.”

Ruby was just six years old in January 2020 when she collapsed at school and was rushed to A&E.

She was then given an emergency referral to Sheffield Children’s Hospital that same evening, where she was diagnosed with cancer.

Amanda was in the hospital room with Ruby’s mother Rebecca when the child was diagnosed, which she described as ‘heartbreaking’.

She said: ‘It’s just every parent’s and grandparent’s nightmare.

“I was in the room with her mother when we found out, and you can’t tolerate anything.

“It was all just heartbreaking.”

Mabel was only two when she saved her sister’s life, so Amanda says she “doesn’t really understand” the significance of her actions at this point.

But she joked that Mabel will “let Ruby pay her back” and “borrow her shoes” when she’s older.

Amanda, who owns a flower business called Groovy Ruby, said: ‘She was only two years old so she doesn’t really understand. But I’m sure Mabel will make Ruby pay her back when she’s older and realizes it.

“They’re so close and they’re great girls, but they have a great relationship between them.

“But Mabel will ask to borrow Ruby’s shoes when she realizes it, and we’ll laugh about it and think it’ll be nice and fun.”

Ruby called in to declare she would be cancer-free in 2022 and she says Ruby is now doing ‘fantastic’ and back to her normal self.

Amanda said: ‘She’s doing great – she only has one check-up a year now and she’s just stopped taking any more medicine.

‘She is a happy, normal and healthy ten-year-old who loves swimming, dancing and piano lessons. She’s just doing fantastic.’

Amanda is now raising money for the Parents’ Association of Children with Tumors and Leukemia (PACT), which has provided ‘amazing’ support for the whole family.

She said: “They understand what the parents are going through, so give them so much support.

‘They brought a sweet cart to the children or gave them coloring books, they are a great charity.

“None of us could be there for Ruby, which was devastating for us because of the pandemic.

“But they were a great support – they were there for my daughter when I couldn’t be there because of the pandemic.”

Nicola Brown, administrative assistant at PACT, said it was an ‘absolute pleasure’ to support Ruby through her cancer journey.

She said: “We are now fortunate that Amanda and her family and friends are once again organizing a fundraiser for PACT and the National Autistic Society.

‘We’re thrilled to be one of their chosen charities and, as always, we look forward to seeing what fun things they have in store to raise money for both charities.

“They truly are a wonderful family and it was our great pleasure to support them through their childhood cancer journey.”

Amanda is co-hosting a fundraising evening for the charity and the National Autistic Society at The Hainton Club in Grimsby, Lincolnshire on May 10.

You can also donate to the family’s Just Giving page here.