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Family of Westgate schoolgirl Aurora Pile-Gray 'over the moon' after doctors confirm she is back in remission

The elated family of a nine-year-old girl battling a rare cancer has revealed she is back in remission and a bone marrow donor has been found.

The odds had been stacked against Aurora Pile-Gray, from Westgate, who was diagnosed with stage 4 Burkitt Lymphoma in May, which affects the blood and bone marrow.

Aurora Pile-Gray
Aurora Pile-Gray

Not only did she need a bone marrow transplant, but in September her parents were told her cancer was more aggressive than ever, just two weeks after being given the all-clear.

But now, mum Keisha, who also has a baby son Oscar and two-year-old daughter Ada-Ireland, has announced the news they have all been desperately waiting for - that brave Aurora, who has undergone gruelling rounds of chemotherapy, is in remission.

A donor has also been found meaning she will have a transplant in the new year.

Writing on Facebook, Keisha said: "Her bone marrow assessments show no cancer cells present, and no cancer cell regeneration on new cells in both the solid and liquid part of her biopsy.

"We were aware about the liquid aspirate a week ago, but we've been anxiously waiting for news on the solid part up until today.

Mum Keisha Pile-Gray with Aurora
Mum Keisha Pile-Gray with Aurora

"The transplant team have also sourced an 11/12 donor match which means that Aurora will have one more round of chemotherapy and will move forward with transplant in January.

"We don't know much about her donor other than her stem cells will be coming from a 36-year-old female, with two children.

"We aren't sure if we are allowed to get in contact before two years but just know, if you read this and it's you, or if you know who it could be, we owe our entire life to you and would give you the world.

"Days like today make our heart burst with pride and love at just how strong she has been throughout this whole ordeal.

"We are forever in awe of how she has tackled this journey and we are absolutely overjoyed that things are starting to look up.

Aurora is battling stage 4 lymphoma
Aurora is battling stage 4 lymphoma

"There's still a long way to go, but she's already come this far, we are all so over the moon, and I can barely get my words out, so for now, we are celebrating that our little lion is fighting on."

The community has been rallying round to help the family raise money towards life-saving cell treatment abroad for the St Crispin's pupil.

For more on her journey see growingpainspaperplanes.wordpress.com.

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