Brother 'kept family going' after sister's cancer

Hollie, who lost an eye to cancer, is striving to live life to the full with help from her five-year-old brother Ted.

The parents of a two-year-old who was diagnosed with a rare eye cancer said her five-year-old brother "single-handedly kept the family going" during her treatment.

In September 2024, Hollie Robinson-Mellor from St Helens, Merseyside, was diagnosed with retinoblastoma, a cancer which affects the retina of children predominantly under six.

Hollie, who had just turned one, had to have her right eye removed to save her life and is still being carefully monitored to ensure her left eye, which was also found to contain tumours, remains cancer free.

Despite the challenges Hollie, now two, faces she strives to live life to the full with help from her five-year-old brother Ted, her family said.

Parents Colette and Kevin said their children 'kept them strong' through Hollie's treatment

"What Ted doesn't realise is that he's kept the whole family going single-handedly. Just by waking up every morning smiling and being himself," Hollie and Ted's father Kevin told BBC Radio Merseyside.

"We're extremely proud of both of them, Ted adores his little sister. Since her diagnosis he's always treated her the same, he's always looking after her and fighting her corner when needs be."

He said Ted supported her in hospital after the operation and even helped Hollie walk for the first time in the corridors when she was still unsteady on her feet.

"He would lie on the bed with her and watch all her favourite cartoons on an iPad, pressing all the buttons for her so she could listen."

Hollie's first MRI scan coincided with Ted's first day in reception

The sibling's mother Colette said she first noticed something unusual with Hollie's eye on Ted's fourth birthday.

"We were in our kitchen and people were taking photos of him blowing out the candles on his cake," she said.

"I noticed that when the flashes were going off, the pupil in Hollie's right eye was gleaming white."

Colette said she made an appointment at the eye clinic a few days later after noticing Hollie's pupil looked like glass under the kitchen lights.

She said they were seen by a specialist from Alder Hey Children's Hospital who suspected it might be a retinoblastoma.

He referred the family to Birmingham Children's Hospital, which is the main retinoblastoma treatment centre for families in the north of England, where Hollie was diagnosed.

Kevin said when they first received the news, the couple agreed they would need to stay strong for the children throughout the process, but as time went on they realised Hollie and Ted were the strong ones.

"Hollie getting up in the morning after her treatment and playing, doing normal things a one-year-old would do, gave us the boost to get through the day," he said.

"Hollie's first MRI scan to see the extent of the disease, which was one of the worst days you can imagine, coincided with Ted's first day in reception.

"If it wasn't for him getting up and getting ready for school and going about his day and being a happy four-year-old child we wouldn't have got through that day."

'Wonderful courage'

In recognition of Hollie and Ted's efforts and bravery, both children have been named as CHECT Champions by the Childhood Eye Cancer Trust (CHECT).

"So often, children affected by retinoblastoma face huge disruption, upset and distressing treatment not to mention follow-on check-ups," says Richard Ashton, chief executive of the Childhood Eye Cancer Trust.

"We are delighted to recognise the wonderful courage and resilience shown by both Hollie and Ted. They really are thoroughly deserving champions."

While retinoblastoma is a rare cancer, CHECT is urging all parents to be aware of the symptoms and to have their child checked out if they have any concerns at all.

The most common signs are a white glow in the eye which is visible in certain lighting or a flash photo, or a squint (lazy eye)."