IMPISHLY posing for the camera, little Makayla Worrall’s smile belies a battle no four-year-old should face.
Severe abdominal pain five months ago turned out to be ovarian cancer, which very rarely presents in children.
Her stomach blew up like a pregnant belly, measuring 68cm around the girth, and she was constantly curled up on the floor in tears.
“Doctors in Warragul thought she had a serious bowel condition, but when she finally had an ultrasound that’s when they found the tumour,” said mother Jacquie Dunker, 26.
“Her stomach was like a woman who was nine months pregnant.
“She’d end up in tears, she was in a lot of pain.”
In the 25 years to 2007, Cancer Council figures show only six other recorded cases of ovarian cancer in the four and under age group.
She was transferred from Warragul to Monash Children’s, where months of chemotherapy was needed to reduce the tumour before it was removed in November.
Despite being stuck in hospital at Christmas, it’s hard to wipe the smile off her face now.
The courageous toddler is one of the hospital’s most popular patients. Staff say her future is bright.
And despite having one ovary removed, they have not ruled out her being able to have children.
“We are very proud of her,” Ms Dunker said.
“She is not like a four-year-old anymore, she’s had to grow up a lot and she’s not that innocent little girl.
“But once she got on top of everything she’s been happy. She’s an inspiration.”
Ms Dunker and her partner Josh Worrall are hoping Makayla will be home by New Year’s Eve to share a belated Christmas dinner with her brother Brandon, 8, and sister Abbey, 1.
Monash clinical nurse specialist Leanne Czerniecki said others could learn from the courageous toddler.
“The most inspirational moment was the first time she stuck out her finger for a blood test,” she said.
“I want to show her to adults and say, look what she’s dealing with, stop your whingeing!
“Children just take it onboard and deal with it.”