Video: Flora 'rings the bell' to signal end of her cancer treatment

Flora Gentleman, 4, was diagnosed with stage four neuroblastoma in April 2021 and has since travelled to New York to take part in a clinical trial to help fight the disease.

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She was joined by mum Steph Kent and dad Jamie Gentleman in hospital today when she was given a guard of honour by staff before ringing the bell in a moment that was described by family as "special".

Speaking to the Courier, Steph spoke of how important the day was and how much of a relief it was to reach this stage especially given Flora's most recent scan showed no evidence of active disease (NEAD).

She said: "It's such a relief, we should have done this when she actually finished because it was an end of treatment ringing bell. Everything was so stressful and hectic when Flora finished treatment and all the scans and tests that happened, so it didn't feel like the right time.

"It was so nice, and it was so nice to see all the team of staff that were there through Flora's treatment. That was really nice to have that little reunion because we don't get to see a lot of them now.

"It was nice to catch up with them and have them all there in that moment – it was really special.

"Flora loves running up and down that corridor, she did it for 20 minutes even before we rang the bell.

"The fact that she was loving it and loving the attention – she didn't want to leave, she cried when we had to leave the hospital so I think that says a lot about the team of people that are involved in her care."

Reflecting on the the difficult year and a half the family have had, Steph was optimistic about the year to come and the opportunities they now have to enjoy together.

She said: "It will be two years in April since she was diagnosed so it's been a long road.

"It's a massive relief that it's finally done and it's nice that there's a little more time to breathe now.

"We've kind of made a New Year's resolution this year that we want to travel lots and take Flora to lots of places and visit even just different places in Scotland.

"We want to make up for the fact that we have had tow or three years living in pretty much isolation and not doing much with her – it's nice to have something to look forward to.

With the end of the treatment comes back a sense of normality to a family that have been through so much in the past year, something that Steph said they would "never take for granted again" even though there is still a long way to go.

She said: "Flora has routine scans with Edinburgh Sick Kids so we are still there every three months and there is the New York trips, which is a three year trial, so we will be back and forth for the next few years.

"Other than that we are talking about nurseries and school, you know there is so much that's happening.

"Flora is looking so good now, that's something everyone was saying today, she looks so big and healthy – you wouldn't even know looking at her that she'd been through what she's been through."