FIGHTING TO LIVE

Mary-Ann Riley, 52, faced more tragic news after her daughter's terrifying battle with cancer

- JOHANNA BELL

As I watched my children Ryan, 30, and Maria, 27, laughing together around the table at a restaurant for Mother’s Day, I was in awe. Both so positive, despite being dealt such unlucky cards. Sometimes But then I see how strong they both are, and their courage is truly inspiring.

Cancer first blighted our lives in 2007 when Maria was just 11. After suffering a terrible cough and tonsillitis symptoms, tests revealed she had acute myeloid leukaemia (AML).

'Am I going to die?' she asked, tearfully.

'Not on my watch,' I replied, hoping it was a promise I could keep.

After six months of chemo, Maria went into remission, so when she found a large lump in her breast just a few months later, we were terrified. She was still only a child, but a biopsy confirmed she'd relapsed, and that was when we learned she'd need a bone marrow transplant.

I'll do it, Ryan, then 13, declared, after doctors explained that I wouldn't be a good enough match. Even when he'd learned how painful the procedure would be, Ryan never faltered. 'She's my sister, I'll do what it takes to save her,' he'd said.

I was so proud of him. When he woke up after the procedure he never complained about the bruises he was left with. He just wanted to sit with Maria, who by this point was bedridden. He sat with her for hours, willing her to get better as his donation was fed into her sleeping body via a drip. Maria spent six weeks in isolation following the transplant. Ryan stayed with my parents while me and their stepdad Marcus, 51, took turns to be at the hospital with Maria.