Zoe Mills from Donabate, in Dublin was diagnosed with an aggressive form of childhood cancer, Neuroblastoma, when she was just ten months old in July 2023.
By the time she was diagnosed, Zoe's condition had reached stage four and she had a tumour attached to her kidney that was taking up 50 percent of her abdomen and which had spread into her bone marrow.
She began chemotherapy at Crumlin Hospital the following day and 18 months on, and after what her parents Emma and David call "a very difficult time in ICU" abdominal surgery and a stem cell transplant, Zoe is making her slow steps to recovery.
Currently, she is receiving five cycles of immunotherapy with a morphine pump to help her cope with the pain and be incredibly courageous with each new challenge thrown at her.
According to her family: "Zoe is currently doing her best to stand up and take a few steps, say a few words, and even 'sing' along to her favorite movie, 'Frozen'!"
She is getting used to her hearing aids, which were necessary after the hearing loss caused by chemo, and communicating better every day.
Her feeding tube is still in place and still required for her nutrition and daily medication. They said: "She is full of personality and fun, and extremely determined!"
"The next stage of Zoe's recovery is to make sure that her cancer doesn't return. Tragically Neuroblasty has a high relapse rate but her family are hoping specialist treatment in the US will help to cure her for good and imploring the public for their support.
"The cost of these trials is hugely expensive and that's why we need your help. We've set up this fundraising campaign, along with family and friends, called 'Hope For Zoe' to try and raise as much money as possible to access these clinical trials.
"All funds will go towards the treatment Zoe needs to beat cancer for good."
To date, over €114k of their €350K goal has been raised with some well-known stars throwing their support behind the campaign.
The list includes Jessica O'Mahony who has shared Zoe's story online and also Ireland star Katie McCabe who met with Zoe during a visit to Crumlin Hospital at Christmas.
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You can learn more about the Hope for Zoe GoFundMe here.
* This article was originally published on Evoke.ie.
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