Two sisters struck by cancer at the same time have celebrated winning their fight for health with a holiday of a lifetime.
By odds equivalent to winning the lottery twice, Rebekah and Megan Rae were diagnosed with different types of the deadly disease just eight months apart.
As Rebekah, 13, was undergoing chemotherapy to treat bone cancer, her horrified parents Murray and Julie learned that Megan, 11, had blood cancer.
But with both girls having been given the all-clear, the family, from Kirkcaldy, were treated to a two-week break in Florida by the Make A Wish Foundation.
Staying at the Give Kids the World Village in, Kissimmee, the Raes made the most of their fortnight in the sun, visiting the famous theme parks including Disney World, Universal Orlando and SeaWorld Orlando.
After coming through their ordeal, Julie, 40, said: “It drew a line under it all. We will never forget it, it was the holiday of a lifetime.”
Murray, 43, said: “It was such a relief to get away after being cooped up in hospitals for such a long time.”
The couple’s nightmare began in September 2011 when a swelling on Rebekah’s arm that doctors initially reckoned was no more than a soft tissue injury was found to be Ewing’s sarcoma.
Rebekah, then only 11, began chemotherapy at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Edinburgh. She was distraught when her beautiful, long locks began falling out after only the second session of the gruelling treatment.
The St Andrew’s High School pupil also endured a nine-hour operation to transplant a bone from her lower leg into her arm. Then in May, last year, Megan discovered a lump behind her ear and Julie asked Rebekah’s consultant to take a look.
Their worst fears were confirmed.
Julie said: “I almost collapsed that day. How could this happen a second time? It wasn’t even the same type of cancer, there was no link.”
Then in August, last year, the family received the first piece of good news they had longed for when Rebekah was given the all-clear. Then in September Megan finished her treatment and later learned she won her fight.
The family were elated.