'Just One Small Piece of My Jigsaw': Darcy Reflects on Cancer Journey as She Heads to University
Twelve years after becoming the first child to ring the End of Treatment Bell at Birmingham Children’s Hospital’s specialist Cancer Unit, former patient Darcy Blakeman is celebrating her A Level results and looking forward to starting university.
Darcy, from Staffordshire, was just three years old when she was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia (ALL) in May 2012. She was quickly transferred to the hospital’s oncology ward to begin treatment for the rare blood and bone marrow cancer.
After two-and-a-half years of gruelling chemotherapy treatment, six-year-old Darcy made history in 2014 when she became the first patient at the hospital to ring the unit’s End of Treatment Bell, kindly provided by the End of Treatment Bells charity.
Reflecting on her experience, Darcy, now 18, shared: “ I’m really grateful for the care I received at Birmingham Children’s Hospital. Those difficult years are just one small piece of my jigsaw, and they haven’t stopped me from having a really normal and happy life.
“I was quite poorly at times, and I know it must have been a worrying period for my family, but I also remember the many great opportunities and celebrations such as finishing treatment and ringing the End of Treatment Bell in 2014. ”
Since completing treatment, Darcy has embraced life to the full, creating countless memories with friends and family and enjoying all the experiences that come with growing up.
She said: “ I’ve been lucky enough to have lots of amazing friends and I’ve really loved my time at high school and sixth form. I’ve had so many experiences and memories that have nothing to do with cancer, from holidays and school trips to just enjoying time with the people around me.
“ Now I’m looking forward to moving away from home and starting university. It feels like a really exciting new chapter for me and I’m looking forward to meeting new people, making new memories and seeing where the next few years take me.
“I’m really thankful to everyone at Birmingham Children’s Hospital who looked after my family and me.”
Her Mum, Deborah Burrows, shared: “Darcy has always made the most of opportunities that have come her way, and I was particularly proud of her when she received A-level results that reflect all her hard work. 
“I’m so grateful to all at the Children’s Hospital and Ward 18 for the fantastic care we received, I always felt we were part of a family who supported us through this chapter of our lives.”