When 'Growing Pains' Were Something Much More Serious

When 8-year-old Abri cried frequently, complaining to her parents about severe leg pain, everyone assumed it was due to growing pains.

"It's incredibly frustrating to see your child cry without any clear reason. Abri was always a healthy child, and we had no reason for concern," recalls Abri's mother, Nicole Bentley. "Our worries grew when she started waking up in the middle of the night, crying and screaming. When we asked what was wrong, she said her left leg hurt a lot, and we couldn't understand why."

Then, one night, the parents decided to take action and brought her to the emergency room. "The doctors reassured us that it was just growing pains and 'it would pass.'"

Abri during the illness

But it didn't pass. In fact, it only got worse. "Eventually, we decided to see a doctor at the local children's hospital and asked for a referral for a biopsy. Within 24 hours, we had a diagnosis."

The diagnosis revealed that Abri had a rare form of malignant cancer, found in her bones and soft tissues. "This type of cancer starts in the thigh bones and spreads to the arm bone, ribs, and neck bone. Given the situation, we couldn't waste any time. We started chemotherapy, which, according to estimates, reduces the mortality rate by 30 percent."

"I Feel Blessed She's Still Here"

Abri had to undergo 17 rounds of chemotherapy, during which doctors had to amputate her affected leg. "Despite everything, Abri always kept her cool and stayed cheerful. She never lost her happy outlook on life, and her behavior really helped us cope with the many challenges posed by the illness."

There was another reason to be joyful — because Abri was diagnosed relatively quickly, her chances of survival were good from the start.

Abri today - a cancer survivor

As Abri's cancer went into remission, she began to thrive: her hair grew back, and she learned to walk again with her prosthetic leg. Abri seemed like a child who had come back to life and had overcome all the hurdles in her way.

"I am so happy and grateful," says Nicole with tears in her eyes. "I feel blessed that she's still here and healthy. Although we need to visit the hospital every two months for the coming year, and then every four months for the next 10 years to ensure the cancer hasn’t returned, I couldn't be happier. Our brave little girl showed us and the whole world that she can handle anything. She’s our inspiration, giving us the strength to overcome our obstacles and challenges, with a smile."