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More on KentOnline
Every bead on teenager Anais Fossey’s necklace tells a step in her courageous battle with cancer.
Each one represents a scan, biopsy, blood test, chemotherapy session or any other treatment the 17-year-old has endured since she was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in May.
But those beads of courage, as they are dubbed by hospital staff, have now been completed by the most important one of all – a purple heart to signify her treatment is over and she is now in remission.
Anais has also been able to return to the Gravesend home she shares with her mum Louisa after spending much of the past five months in isolation at the Royal Marsden Hospital in Surrey.
Louisa said: “It really has been a horrific time. She has been in hospital pretty much since she was diagnosed because it was such a fast-growing cancer and she needed the most aggressive treatment.
“She has been so ill and although the chemo is done, the next few weeks are still going to be tough.
"She will also have regular check-ups over the next three years. Anais has fought to the very end and I am so proud of her.
"Now we will just concentrate on the road to recovery and hope it isn’t too long.”
The former St John’s Comprehensive pupil was diagnosed after she discovered a lump in her neck.
Within a week of seeing her GP, Anais was seen by doctors at Darent Valley Hospital who gave the devastating news.
“I just burst into tears and Anais was rubbing my hand saying: ‘Are you all right Mum?’” said Louisa, 39.
“I don’t think she realised at that stage how serious it was. Within a week she was in hospital.”
It was a second setback for the teenager who also suffers from bipolar disorder.
Family and friends rallied around, however, and launched an appeal to send her to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Florida once she is well enough.
A fundraising page was set up on Facebook and the first event, dubbed Help Anais Kickin Cancer’s Butt Extravaganza, featured performances from several bands at the Three Daws pub in Gravesend in August.
The appeal has raised £3,500 to date but Louisa, who gave up her job in a town centre tattoo shop to look after Anais, hopes to push the total even higher.
"It really has been a horrific time. She has been in hospital pretty much since she was diagnosed" - Anais's mum Louisa
She said: “I wanted to jump out of a plane but Anais wouldn’t let me. She was scared I’d end up in hospital. So I’ll have to come up with something less daring.”
Anais has asked that any monies raised over the cost of the Harry Potter trip should be donated to the Make A Wish Foundation.
She also hopes to return to the Royal Marsden as a visitor and not just a patient.
“She said it’s good to be home but she is missing the people there,” said Louisa.
“One was going through treatment but still had her fake tan on and talked about her nights out.
"Another friend she made had a brain tumour and has gone through so much. She was a real inspiration to Anais.”
