In February Darcie Willis was diagnosed with Burkitt’s lymphoma, a highly aggressive cancer.
Two weeks ago, and six months to the day after her "cheeky" and "happy" daughter received the diagnosis, she was told she was cancer-free.
"Although remission is the best news you can get, it is a bit like having an oxygen mask on, and taking it off is a bit scary.
"It is hard to be jubilant; we want to be careful."
It was also difficult because her family had met many other children who were still fighting cancer, Mrs Willis said.
While staying at Ronald McDonald House in Christchurch, Darcie became "best friends" with a little girl the same age as her but while Darcie was now free of cancer, her friend was still receiving treatment.
"They have a soul-sister type relationship ...
"They would just light each other up when they saw each other.
"They were just so good for each other.‘‘It was definitely a positive amongst everything else."
Mrs Willis said she felt particularly conscious of the bittersweet position families were in because it was Child Cancer Awareness Month.
"So many amazing children and families are affected by this."
Since the good news, the family had been slowly allowing themselves to entertain future plans, she said.
"We are starting to think about doing the things we would talk about when Darcie was getting her treatment."
Darcie’s plans include ballet and ski lessons and returning to kindergarten before she starts school next May.
Darcie would have monthly blood tests and three-monthly scans for the near future, Mrs Willis said.
During her treatment, Darcie received about 600 beads of courage, but her final bead, a purple heart, was particularly special.
Mrs Willis is now focused on the next chapter in Darcie’s life.‘‘Life after is about returning to normal things, "People take the mundane stuff for granted but it is really good."
