Family 'overwhelmed' by response to effort to get tot to New York

The family of a three-year-old girl who has just done battle with stage 4 of a rare form of cancer, are now pitching their hopes that it can be kept at bay by a team of American medics who are currently trialling a treatment in the US.

The stumbling block is that accessing the treatment that little India Smyth requires will cost the mammoth sum of around half a million euros.

As a result, the family made the decision to launch a GoFundMe appeal, and were thrilled that within days, donations amounting to €125,000 - a quarter of their target - were made.

"We've been overwhelmed by the support," says Niamh Smyth, India's aunt, who set up the appeal. India's parents are Aengus Smyth, from Mullingar, and Kate Kelly, who is originally from Waterford.

Niamh explains that in December 2022, when she was just one year old, India was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer, stage 4 high-risk neuroblastoma.

Over the time since then, the brave tot has received gruelling but lifesaving treatment.

"India has endured multiple rounds of chemotherapy, surgery to remove a tumour and her kidney, a stem cell transplant followed by further chemotherapy, radiotherapy and most recently, immunotherapy," says Niamh.

"Along the way she has suffered significant setbacks with many days spent in ICU but her strength and resilience have given us hope in the darkest of times."

In recent weeks India has completed her treatment and is carefully being eased back into a “normal life” without her feeding tube, attending Montessori and taking part in a ballet recital, which Niamh says brought all the family much joy.

Unfortunately, with the type of cancer India has been fighting, the chance of relapse is extremely high.

However, if the family can get her to New York, India will be able to access a clinical trial at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Centre.

"This trial will give India the highest chance at preventing the cancer from re-occurring, greatly improving her chance of survival," says Niamh.

The hope is also that the trial will also help many more children in the future who will receive the devastating diagnosis of neuroblastoma cancer.

"Unfortunately, being a part of a clinical trial is costly and will involve expensive and ongoing medical fees with numerous trips to New York over three years. While India's family will front as much of the costs as they can, they need support to bring their much-adored little girl to New York," says Niamh.

"We have a goal to raise €500,000. This goal is ambitious but we know with your support, it is achievable," she has written on the GoFundMe site.

Niamh goes on to say the Smyth family is forever indebted to the wonderful staff in Crumlin and St Luke’s Hospitals for the excellent care and kindness they have shown the family at every stage.

"They have gotten us to this final, but big hurdle," says Niamh, going on to state that the family remains so grateful for the love, kindness and empathy shown by everyone who has kept India in their prayers and sent good wishes, many of whom the family has never even met.

Any additional funds raised by the appeal will be donated to the Gavin Glynn Foundation, Crumlin Hospital, St Luke’s Hospital and Neuroblastoma Research.