Her mother Alex McCarthy said they thought Kaia needed glasses.<\/p>\n
Elrond and Alex McCarthy, parents of Kaia and 4-year-old Amelie. Photo \/ Supplied<\/p>\n
But when they took Kaia to the optometrist a week after her seventh birthday, he looked at Kaia\u2019s eye and said: \u201cI\u2019ve never seen this before\u201d.<\/p>\n
International specialists were recruited for advice. <\/p>\n
After extensive consultation with specialists across New Zealand, Australia, the US, and Europe, a sample was taken from Kaia\u2019s right eye and sent to Switzerland for confirmation of the retinoblastoma. <\/p>\n
The glowstick accident led specialists to catch the tumour early.<\/p>\n
Otherwise, Kaia faced the possibility of losing her right eye.<\/p>\n
Alex recalled their \u201ccomplete shock\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt happened so quickly.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kaia received two kinds of treatment \u2013 intravitreal and systemic chemotherapy \u2013 over the past five months at the Starship<\/a> Hospital Blood and Cancer Unit. <\/p>\n During Kaia\u2019s last round of systemic chemotherapy, it was recommended she undergo intra-arterial chemotherapy.<\/p>\n Initially, Kaia was going to receive the treatment in Switzerland.<\/p>\n Alex said intra-arterial chemotherapy had only ever been administered to a few children in New Zealand, so it came with risks. <\/p>\n Because of uncertainties surrounding the cost, logistics, and timing, Switzerland \u201cgrew beyond what [the family] could manage in a lot of ways\u201d.<\/p>\n With specialists at Starship Hospital feeling confident they could deliver the treatment in Auckland, the decision was made to call off Switzerland. <\/p>\n The treatment plan involved two rounds of intra-arterial chemotherapy four weeks apart.<\/p>\n Intra\u2011arterial chemotherapy is administered via the femoral artery in her groin, with the catheter guided into the ophthalmic artery so the drugs can be delivered directly to her eye.<\/p>\n Alex said the first round went \u201creally well\u201d, and Kaia was recovering.<\/p>\n Her next and final round of treatment would be in early January.<\/p>\n Kaia will be monitored closely for two years afterwards to look for any signs of the tumour returning.<\/p>\n \u201cHopefully, this will be her last treatment.\u201d<\/p>\n After two years, Kaia moves into a \u201clower-risk zone\u201d.<\/p>\n But Alex said there was never a guarantee the tumour would not return.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s no way of testing the optic nerve, so it\u2019s difficult to know everything\u2019s 100% gone.<\/p>\n \u201cExperts are using their knowledge of what they know about cancer to give her the best treatment plan to ensure the best outcome for her.\u201d<\/p>\n Kaia knows she needs medicine for her eye, but Alex and Elrond call the cancer a \u201ccloud\u201d in Kaia\u2019s eye when they discuss the condition with her. <\/p>\n \u201cIt has been a roller coaster,\u201d Alex said.<\/p>\n \u201cYou start to do one thing, and then it\u2019s adapting and changing all the time based on the kind of information that comes in and recommendations.\u201d<\/p>\n Alex and Elrond thought systemic chemotherapy would be the last round of treatment for Kaia, but \u201cyou never know what\u2019s coming next\u201d.<\/p>\n Kaia\u2019s hair started to fall out during systemic chemotherapy, and she stopped attending school and playing sports because of her weakened immune system.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s been a tough road for Kaia, and she has been quite anxious.\u201d<\/p>\n But Alex said, \u201cKaia has been amazing\u201d, and so had the Starship team looking after her. <\/p>\n \u201cThey put so much work and care into her to do everything the best they can.\u201d<\/p>\n Alex said Kaia was excited to get back on the monkey bars and go swimming once she recovered.<\/p>\n \u201cShe\u2019s keen to get back to doing all those sorts of things.\u201d<\/p>\nA glowstick accident led to Kaia’s rare eye cancer diagnosis. Photo \/ Supplied<\/p>\n
Kaia McCarthy with her sister Amelie. Photo \/ Supplied<\/p>\n