A NINE-year-old girl who has battled with leukaemia for more than five years set off on her first family holiday this week.
Claudia Golesz of Bilton Road, Perivale, Greenford suffered a relapse from her initial treatment and had to undergo a bone marrow transplant in July 2008.
Since then the courageous young girl has been getting better day after day, overcoming the most difficult times in her life, and was extremely excited to find out her family were chosen by Great Ormond Street Hospital to go on a week-long holiday to Majorca.
Claudia, her older brother David, 13, who attends Cardinal Wiseman School in Greenford, mum, Anna, 35 and dad, Witold, 38, were flown out on April 30, courtesy of First Choice Holidays.
Claudia said: "I was very excited when I was told that we are going to Majorca and was counting the days. This is my first holiday after a long time with my family and I am excited about everything, from meeting the cast of the Pirates Adventure show, going to the beach, the sea and hot weather.
"I have bought a new pair of sunglasses, sun hat and some new dresses and I can't wait to make a sand castle, play in the water and enjoy strawberry ice-cream."
It was in 2005 the Golesz family found out their then four-year-old daughter had been diagnosed with cancer.
The bad news was a massive shock to the family as Claudia had always been a healthy child but no amount of information could have prepared them for the coming years.
After being admitted to Great Ormond Street Hospital doctors told the Golesz's, Claudia would receive a two-year treatment known as Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia (ALL), starting with heavy chemotherapy.
Mrs Golesz said: "Claudia started feeling tired, weak and had high body temperature. We took her to A&E at Northwick Park Hospital where they carried out some tests, and within hours we got the bad news that she had leukaemia and she was then admitted to Great Ormond Street Hospital.
"She was admitted to Great Ormond Street Hospital and when we went to the chemo ward and saw all these children without hair we started to understand what would happen to Claudia. It was hard to come to terms with this happening to our daughter."
But heartache continued when they discovered she needed a bone marrow transplant and David was not a match. However soon enough the hospital were able to find an elderly woman who returned a match result of nine out of 10.
Anna said: "When she had the relapse it was another shock and we were devastated with the news because she seemed fine and felt well. The transplant went ahead in July 2008 after which Claudia spent six months in an isolation room. It was hard for her and I cannot understand how she did that. They were the hardest months in her life but she was really brave and we are very proud of her."
Claudia had to drop out of school very early on, but the little fighter hopes to join a school starting in Year Five this September.
