Six-Year-Old Girl Told She Has Weeks To Live After Arm Pain Was Misdiagnosed As A Sprain

A young girl has been given just weeks to live after what first appeared to be arm pain was later found to be a rare and aggressive childhood cancer. Her story has left many people heartbroken.

Six-year-old Bonnie-Leigh Spence, who lives in the UK, had most of her left arm amputated in an effort to remove the cancer after receiving her diagnosis in February last year.

Bonnie-Leigh first developed a noticeable lump on her arm, which later became painful and sharp in December 2024, prompting concern from her family.

Her stepmother, Caroline Spence, explained that doctors initially believed the pain was caused by a simple sprain. It was only after Bonnie-Leigh returned for a second visit that her arm was properly scanned.

The scan confirmed the devastating news that Bonnie-Leigh had Rhabdoid Sarcoma, a rare and fast-moving form of childhood cancer.

Rhabdoid Sarcoma is most often found in the kidneys, but it can also develop in the brain or other soft tissues throughout the body.

Caroline, who is 32, said the family’s initial outlook worsened after further testing showed the cancer had already spread.

She explained: "Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle did a full body MRI and found it had spread to her lungs. It had started cutting off nerves and leaking toxins into her kidneys."

"They had to amputate her arm above her elbow and after that she had chemo for 28 weeks. She had it every two weeks, it was an intense 28 weeks."

Bonnie-Leigh was given weeks to live SWNS

"Around June time she had two weeks of radiotherapy to try and shrink the tumors in the lungs. They were huge."

Despite enduring an intensive course of chemotherapy, doctors later told the family that the tumors had returned in Bonnie-Leigh’s lungs and were beginning to progress again.

"The doctors have said she's had the maximum dosage of chemotherapy, so now we're waiting for the tumors in her body essentially," shared Caroline.

"They're just waiting for it to hit its momentum, they've said it would be about mid-March. It would be days after it peaks that we could lose, so we're told we have roughly eight weeks. The cancer has doubled again in six weeks."

With doctors now estimating Bonnie-Leigh has only weeks left to live, her family has started fundraising to give her meaningful experiences while they still have time together.

Bonnie’s father, Iain, an HGV driver and former soldier, and Caroline, who works as a midwife, have both taken leave from their jobs so they can care for her full time.

Her tumor was thought to be a sprain SWNS

Caroline said they set up a GoFundMe account but did not expect it to be active for long due to the seriousness of Bonnie-Leigh’s condition.

Thanks to the support they received, the family has been able to give Bonnie-Leigh several special experiences. These include a trip to Disneyland, walking onto the Rangers pitch, and joining Newcastle United’s captain at the start of a match.

"We've had to fit a lifetime worth of memories into a year," Caroline explained.

The family also plans to visit Iain’s parents in Spain, enjoy time at the beach even though it is not warm, welcome a new puppy into their home, and take a couple of short UK trips to the Lake District using the remaining funds.