Michael and Natalie Kay with baby daughter Darcie who has been fighting cancer

by Gerry Warren

Her fragile body was under attack from cancer – but throughout her eight-month battle with the disease, baby Darcie Kay never stopped smiling.

She has now had her last session of chemotherapy and doctors are cautiously giving her the all-clear.

It is a massive relief for parents Michael and Natalie Kay, who say they nearly lost her in May after an adverse reaction to the drugs.

Darcie’s illness required drastic surgery to remove a tumour, which involved removing three ribs and part of her right lung.

Now the couple, who also have three boys, say they will be forever grateful to the medics who have “worked a miracle” to save their little girl.

Baby Darcie Kay duirng her cancer treatment and, below, as she is today

Natalie, of Manciple Close, Canterbury, said: “It all started when I found a lump on Darcie’s back when she was only a few weeks old. I was obviously worried about it and took her to the doctor.

“At first they thought it might just be a harmless fat lump, but I was not so sure and an ultrasound showed it had blood vessels.

“It quickly got bigger and after further scans and tests she was rushed to Great Ormond Street Hospital.

“I said to the doctors ‘tell me I’m wrong, she hasn’t got cancer has she?’”

But the couple’s worst fears were confirmed when Darcie was diagnosed with an infantile fibrosarcoma – a cancerous tumour which had spread to her lung.

Natalie, 30, said: “I just broke down and pleaded with the doctors to save my little girl.

“The consultant oncologist Dr Tanzina Choudhury was brilliant and said ‘my aim is to save her’, and she has worked a miracle.

“Through it all, Darcie has been amazing. She is a real tough cookie, seldom cries and just kept smiling.

"In fact, we set up a Facebook page called Smiles for Darcie and have had tremendous support from family and friends.

“We also got support from a couple of charities which I am now trying to help.
“We held a coffee morning at the church hall at Harbledown on Friday and raised £376.20 which we are donating to Chelsea’s Angels and Samuel’s Children’s Charity.

“They have given us brilliant support and I want to keep fund-raising for them.”