Brave Enniskillen teenager Jessica Saunderson has successfully had a bone graft to her leg after having surgery to remove a tumour from her leg.

The 13-year-old had received a bone graft on Tuesday following surgery at the Ulster Hosptial. The teen had been in surgery for several hours to have the bone graft completed.

Jessica’s mum, Michelle Saunderson, said: “ Jessica was a wee bit emotional before going in, she was in for a long procedure. There were lots of hugs.”

Jessica first became ill two years ago in April, 2019, but her mum Michelle described her as a “brave girl.”

Jessica’s condition was reported earlier in the year in this newspaper.

Speaking to The Impartial Reporter in February, Jessica’s mum, Michelle Saunderson, explained her daughter’s diagnosis and treatment.

“A giant cell tumour is benign [not cancerous], but because of the extent of the tumour, Jessica had to get a form of chemo treatment called ‘Denosumab’,” she said.

“At this time, Jessica required the use of a wheelchair as the tumour had broken a bone in her leg, leaving her in a cast for a number of months.

“She received treatment from June to December, 2019, and in January, 2020, she underwent surgery to remove the tumour from her leg.”

During Jessica’s treatment she had raised a substantial amount of money for the Children’s Cancer Fund.

Looking to the future, Michelle said: “Hopefully [the tumour] will be removed, it was a benign tumour on her leg, so there is a possibility it could come back elsewhere.”

Michelle praised the staff at the Ulster Hospital and said: “They look after her well and they look after her the whole time.”

Jessica, her family, friends and former school mates have been raising money for the Children’s Cancer Fund. Her mum said the fundraising efforts had “lifted Jessica’s spirits”.

The money was raised through various avenues including a Zoom online quiz hosted by the Enniskillen Model Primary School, as well as a just-giving page which had been set up by the family, various cheques donated by kind-hearted people, as well as a raffle for a signed Liverpool Football Club shirt which raised £1,000 of the total.

A raffle that was held raised more than £300 for the Children’s Cancer Fund resulting in the grand total of £7,160.