'Wee superhero’ Ruby beats cancer after gruelling 18-month battle

A brave Donegal girl who has ‘been to hell and back’ in her fight against cancer has been given the all-clear and is now in full remission.

Ruby Kiernan Houston, aged seven, will mark the end of her treatment for neuroblastoma by ringing the bell at Children’s Health Ireland Crumlin on Monday.

After that, she’s off to Disneyland for some well-deserved fun.

Ruby’s parents Sean and Alana shared an emotional update yesterday to announce that her end-of-assessment scan has come back normal and that her bone marrow is clear, meaning her treatment plan has officially finished.

Ruby, whose initial symptom was a sore leg, was diagnosed with neuroblastoma in 2024. She endured an intense 18-month treatment journey, including chemotherapy, surgery to remove her primary tumour, a stem cell transplant, radiation therapy and immunotherapy.

“Ruby has been to hell and back over the last 18 months, a place where no child should be, but it is just incredible to see her now,” her parents said.

“After all the gruelling treatment, she is a wee champion and we couldn’t be prouder of her — our very own wee superhero. She’s a remarkable young child with the heart of a lion.”

With treatment now complete, the family said they are beginning to return to some sense of normality, with Ruby returning to school and hospital visits to CHI Crumlin becoming less frequent.

Ruby’s family have thanked all the medical teams who cared for their “little warrior” in Crumlin and at Letterkenny University Hospital.

They also thanked their families and the public for the overwhelming support shown throughout Ruby’s illness, saying: “We were just blown away at the incredible support and kindness and generosity throughout this whole ordeal. Yous have been a beacon of light in our darkest times, so thank you all so much from the bottom of our hearts.”

Following Ruby’s shock diagnosis, various local events and a GoFundMe page to support ‘Ruby’s Fight for Life’ raised more than €108,000 to support Alana and Seany during their most difficult time.

A new chapter is beginning for the family, but first, they have some very special celebrations ahead.

Team Ruby said: “Ruby is going to ring the bell in CHI Crumlin on Monday to signal the end of her treatment. It will be a momentous and emotional day for us all. She then will be jetting off to Disneyland Paris for a 3-day break on Tuesday to see Mickey and the gang. We cannot wait - a well-deserved break for all.”