Mom Searches Toddler's Flu Symptoms Online, Suddenly Realizes It's Something More Serious: 'Total Shock'

A mom who was told her daughter had the flu discovered she had something far more dire — after looking online when her toddler’s health continued to deteriorate.

Helen Jackson took her daughter Gracie McHugh, then 2, to the hospital in January 2023 with flu-like symptoms. But the toddler was sent home, where her condition quickly worsened.

Gracie developed a rash — and then lost the ability to walk — Jackson, 39, tells South West News Service via The Daily Mail. The mom of four looked up her daughter’s symptoms online and brought her child back to the hospital.

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There, they received news that Jackson says was a “total shock”: Gracie had acute lymphoblastic leukemia. The word “acute” refers to the rapid progression of the blood and bone marrow cancer, the Mayo Clinic says — and as Gracie’s mom explained, the toddler had been playing normally and dancing around their home just days before.

Treatment was immediate, the Halifax, England, mom says: Her daughter was given a blood transfusion, then transferred to Leeds General Infirmary for ten days of intense chemotherapy and steroids. She also began physiotherapy to re-learn to walk.

“It was such a dark time when Gracie was diagnosed,” Jackson told the outlet. “Luckily, she was too young to understand what was going on.”

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This coming March — more than two years after her initial diagnosis — Gracie is finally due to end her treatment. Her mother says she’s been left with weakened legs due to osteopenia, which is low bone density, which can be caused by chemotherapy.

Gracie has now signed on for a Cancer Research UK clinical trial on treatments for acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

“The end is in sight now with Gracie's treatment completing soon and we have so much to look forward to this year,” said her mom, who added that Gracie’s courage in the face of her illness earned her a “Star Award” from Cancer Research UK.

“Cancer Research UK is such a fantastic charity to recognise these amazing and courageous children and to help fund the clinical trial Gracie has been on,” Jackson said.

'We couldn't be prouder of Gracie receiving a Star Award as she's been so incredibly brave throughout all of her treatment.'

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