‘Devastating news’ as Toy Show star Saoirse Ruane’s cancer returns
The parents of 2020 Late Late Toy Show star Saoirse Ruane, 9, have shared the “devastating news” that she needs further cancer treatment.
aoirse captured the hearts of the nation when she appeared on The Toy Show, telling the story of how she lost her leg to a tumor and her three wishes, including being able to walk on her own by Christmas.
In 2019, Saoirse had just received news that what was thought to be a broken bone in her leg turned out to be a very rare form of bone cancer, affecting only around three children in Ireland each year.
A native of Kiltullagh, Co Galway, she immediately began chemotherapy and on 18 March 2020, as the country entered lockdown, her right leg was amputated.
Speak with Independent.ie After appearing at Toy Show 2020, her mother, Roseanna Ruane, said Saoirse’s remarkable strength shone through despite the toughest of times when she regained consciousness after her surgery.
“When she was still hooked up and everything was brand new, she turned around and said, ‘Mom, I’m so glad I got rid of my leg because now I’ve got rid of my tumor.’
“That was very mature for an eight-year-old. To process it like that, she saw the bright side and she got through it. Her positive attitude also got us through,” she said.
Saoirse Ruane (9) with her mother Roseanna on the set of The Late Late Show. Photo: Andres Poveda.
After her performance, Saoirse became the inspiration for the Toy Show Appeal, which raised over €6 million for various children’s charities last year.
This week, however, Saoirse’s family said a pediatric consultant recently gave them the news, which they “never wanted to hear again”.
In an Instagram post, her family wrote: “Last Wednesday April 27th 2022 we landed back where it all began on December 1st 2019, at UHG. In the same cubicle, in the same pediatric ward, and after another day of testing, we are once again sitting in front of a pediatrician being told the words we never wanted to hear again!
“We just don’t have the words for you all, we are just heartbroken! We knew that day might come, but we did our best to park it in the back of our minds as much as possible, be positive, be grateful, and move on with our lives.
“Feeling physically ill as I write this, I can’t stress enough to all of you (our amazing friends, followers and supporters) that life is so incredibly precious!
“We would like to ask for all of your prayers at this time as we work out the roadmap for this next journey together with our amazing oncologist and team.
“Saoirse (being Saoirse) is incredibly brave and as a family we ask that you give us time now to understand this devastating news!”
The message was signed: “Ollie, Roseanna, Farrah Rose and our beautiful brave Saoirse Ruane.”
Meanwhile, the late host Ryan Tubridy gave an Instagram post of support to Saoirse, her family and anyone else who is “facing a fight”.
“My friend from the Toy Show, Saoirse Ruane, has had some bad news recently and her family hopes we will all send her the love and strength she needs to ‘figure out the roadmap’ as her mother said today,” he wrote.
“Saoirse is exceptional and she is the reason we started the Toy Show Appeal. I hope she knows how much we appreciate her. Love to her and all the Ruanes tonight and to any family in trouble.”
https://www.independent.ie/news/devastating-news-as-toy-show-star-saoirse-ruanes-9-cancer-returns-41613807.html ‘Devastating news’ as Toy Show star Saoirse Ruane’s cancer returns