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Summer Smith has been falsely diagnosed with asthma and tonsillitis for almost a year before a terrifying moment reveals the true nature of her illness.
The three-year-old girl was having dinner just before Christmas when her mother, April Cunningham, had her worst nightmare.
"I fed Summer her dinner and she did not swallow her food, she suddenly started vomiting and all that blood was flowing in my hands," said the 29-year-old. Mail-Mail.
After being rushed to the Queensland Children 's Hospital, Summer spent six days in a coma, before doctors painfully announced the rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare cancer that forms in muscle tissue.
Ms. Cunningham said that she felt helpless after being beaten for almost a year to find out what was wrong with Summer.
"I rely on health professionals and I thought something was wrong, I felt so helpless," she said.
"His weight has dropped since October and his speech has changed, but his doctors have continued to send me home."
Family, friends and strangers all rallied behind Ms. Cunningham, offering free hosting with Childhood Cancer Support, and even hosting a music festival, Sounds of Summer.
Ms. Cunningham said it was vital to have that support and to have someone to talk to.
April Cunningham said that she felt helpless after being beaten for almost a year to find out what was wrong with Summer. Picture: Tara Croser
Cancer Council Queensland said that Summer's diagnosis was very rare – only 23 children are diagnosed each year in Australia – but its chances of survival are significant.
"The five-year survival rate is about 76%," said General Manager Chris McMillan.
Friends and family have created a GoFundMe page – Support the fight against cancer – to help cover the costs of weekly chemotherapy and to keep Ms. Cunningham as a full-time caregiver.
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