Joy for Forres family as toddler Eilidh is given all-clear in the USA

Great news from latest US visit by Eilidh Paterson
Great news from latest US visit by Eilidh Paterson

MORAY TODDLER EILEIDH Paterson brought massive smiles of relief this week as her family learned there was no neuroblastoma cells in her body.

Eileidh travelled to the United States for her latest round of treatment – made possible by the incredible efforts of hundreds of people in Moray and throughout Scotland who raised the required funding for the trips earlier this year.

The toddler, accompanied by Mum Gail, returned to the Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital in Grand Rapids, Michigan – and Gail was delighted to inform an army of well-wishers back home that Eilidh’s latest test shows the toddler is clear of the cancer.

However, with the relief came a little concern as it emerged Eilidh had contracted pneumonia, although a relieved Gail said: “Thankfully it looks like it has been caught quickly and Eilidh has been put on a ten-day course of antibiotics, so hopefully that will be enough to clear it as her cough and throat sounds awful.”

Gail reported that shortly after their arrival at the hospital Eilidh was clearly in a mischievous mood – with her nurse, Dennis, spending much of his time chasing her around the sedation unit – “he ended up giving her bubbles to play with to keep her in her room” Gail said.

Eilidh is undergoing pioneering treatment at DeVos which is aimed at maximising the chance of the neuroblastoma not returning. Gail said: “We got the result of Eilidh’s latest scan and her doctors and nurse were ecstatic that it was clear – although they explained about it showing the pneumonia.

“The relief of having a clear scan is unexplainable and I can now look forward to enjoying Christmas.”

The family will now begin the long journey back home to Moray today in time for Christmas with Gail’s parting shot: “Tonight I will be able to go to sleep with a smile – my amazing Princess Puddles has done it again.”