The South West College student was diagnosed with Anaplastic Large-Cell Lymphoma, back in 2009 and started treatment on her 11th birthday as she explained:

 

 “I was very sick when I was 10 and it was just a few days before my 11th birthday I was diagnosed. I was in and out of hospital for about six months beforehand with flu like symptoms and I lost about four or five stone so I was in and out of the Erne Hospital and it was only a few days before my 11th birthday that the doctor referred me up to Belfast to get a second opinion that they diagnosed me. On my 11th birthday I started my first bout of chemo so I had my birthday in hospital.”

 

The 17-year-old continued: “None of us had any idea it was cancer. 

My mum had asked the question to the doctors, but obviously they had no indication that it was cancer and it was only after further tests that it was discovered. The cancer attacks the lymph nodes and mine had attacked lymph nodes under my right arm and closer to my diagnosis it had spread to my ovaries.”

 

After undergoing  six months of  gruelling chemotherapy Naomi’s low immune system meant she was unable to fully attend  Lisnaskea High School until third year and had a home tutor to ensure she didn’t fall behind. Naomi was identified as a high risk cancer patient a year after treatment due to the possible development of leukaemia, but thankfully the student  has remained healthy and has had no relapse, only visiting her doctor once a year for a check-up. 

 

Normally it would be a10 years before Naomi would get the all clear from cancer, but doctors are hoping to give her the good news this April on the date of her 18th birthday.

 

“It would mean absolutely everything to me if I got the all clear,” explained Naomi. “It’s one less trip a year up to the hospital and it is  not so much it won’t be a part of my life any more I just wouldn’t have to constantly think about it, it would just be something in the past.”

 

The Lisbellaw teenager who attended Devenish College before transferring to South West College has hopes of either joining the police or the army in the future and believes her battle with cancer has made her stronger.

 

“I said it to my family not so long ago and they thought it was horrible, but I honestly am grateful I’ve had cancer, it’s made me the person I am today and I wouldn’t have met the people I did, my life would just be completely different.”