Kelsey Buckley British girl left without a leg due to bone cancer Country: Great Britain

Biography of Kelsey Buckley

Kelsey Buckley, a British girl from Seacroft, Leeds, faced a life-changing battle with bone cancer. At the age of 12, after undergoing chemotherapy, Kelsey had to make the difficult decision to sacrifice her leg in order to defeat the disease. Her journey began in 2011 when she discovered a lump on her leg and was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a form of bone cancer.

Despite losing her tibia bone and receiving a metal prosthesis in 2012 at Birmingham Orthopaedic Hospital, Kelsey continued to suffer from recurrent infections, causing her immense pain. Her mother, Kim, praised her daughter's resilience, saying, "She is simply amazing. Despite her youth, she has handled it all remarkably well. She smiled through the grueling rounds of chemotherapy. It was heartbreaking to see my daughter in so much pain due to the infection. But throughout it all, she was incredibly brave. I told her, 'Kelsey, don't give up,' and she replied, 'I won't leave you.' She said, 'Why are you crying? It's just cancer.'"

Ultimately, Kelsey agreed to the amputation, and in the summer of 2013, she underwent the operation. Determined to move forward and embrace life, she said, "Once I got rid of my infected leg, I finally started to make peace with my life. I didn't allow myself to be knocked down for long. I was up on my feet just a few hours after the surgery. I have my whole life ahead of me."

Kelsey drew strength from her mother and her four siblings, particularly her twin sister, Kara. Kara described her sister as her inspiration, saying, "She is my role model. We are so close, so when she faced cancer, it was incredibly tough. It's amazing to see how happy she is now, after going through all the trials. We are all so glad she can finally enjoy life again."

Currently undergoing rehabilitation, Kelsey has regained her ability to swim and hopes to try ice-skating in the future. She prefers not to use a prosthetic leg and instead relies on crutches. Returning to school, she has found immense support from her friends, which has been crucial to her recovery. Kim, her mother, expressed her relief that Kelsey has regained her appetite after struggling with inadequate body weight. She also acknowledged their luck in receiving an early diagnosis, as many people wait months before receiving a diagnosis, making treatment even more challenging.

Julie Harrington, the CEO of the Bone Cancer Research Trust, praised Kelsey's incredible bravery and maturity in handling her diagnosis and adapting to her new life. She serves as an inspiration to all, and the organization wishes her and her family the very best.

Primary bone cancer is a devastating disease, affecting 600 people in the UK and Ireland every year. Sadly, half of them do not survive, and the survivors often struggle with emotional trauma and physical scars. Over the past 25 years, the survival rate for children and young adults with osteosarcoma has not improved significantly.