An Aberdeenshire grandfather has been doing a lot of writing for his granddaughter since she was diagnosed with cancer – from writing a book to penning a request to Lewis Capaldi.
Hugh Drysdale would previously have described himself as pretty tough – a former diver, he has recovered bodies from wreckages.
However, he admits he has been shaken since his five-year-old granddaughter Kyla Gould was diagnosed with cancer.
He said: “I’ve seen things, but in the last two months I’ve become an emotional wreck.”
Following the discovery of a brain tumour in his granddaughter last year, the grandfather has written to several public figures and is in the middle of writing a book.
Assumed at first she was ‘goofing around’
Speaking through tears, the 66-year-old said when Kyla first started falling about more in August last year, they thought she was “goofing around”.
Believing it might be an ear infection, her parents, who now live in the USA, took her to see an optician. It was then it was noticed that the nerves at the back of Kyla’s eye were not straight.
Her parents were told to take her straight to hospital.
After MRI and CT scans, they found a three-inch mass at the base of Kyla’s skull which they later determined was medulloblastoma, a cancerous brain tumour.
Kyla was operated on a few days later.
Mr Drysdale, from Newtonhill, said: “They operated and were quite successful in removing very close to 100% of it and from the MRI they saw there was a little dusting of other indications in her brain but also a few down her spine.
“They immediately started her on five to six weeks of proton radiation treatment.”
She woke up from surgery to Bruises
When coming out of surgery, Kyla woke up to Lewis Capldi’s song Bruises playing.
Originally introduced to the song by her grandma, he said: “She woke up fairly quickly. And was almost singing along.
“I would really love Lewis Capaldi to sing her a song. I tried to get in touch with Lewis Capaldi but I think I only got hold of his agents.”
While Kyla was going through treatment, Mr Drysdale said they tried to fly Mrs Drysdale, her grandmother, from Aberdeenshire to the States. However, due to Covid restrictions at the time, this was not an easy task.
Mr Drysdale started writing to a number of public figures and organisations to try and get help.
“I wrote emails to Joe Biden, Boris Johnson, Nicola Sturgeon, Jason Leitch and many others.
“We’d also tried to employ an agency down in London to try and help.”
It was not until someone suggested that they get in touch with a local member of parliament that the couple had any success.
“We then got in touch with our local MP, Andrew Bowie,” Mr Drysdale said. “They sent an email and some letterhead documentation to the American ambassador and in 45 minutes my wife got approval.”
Kyla’s mum, Laura Gould who grew up in Aberdeenshire, said it really helped during a stressful time: “My mum finally made it over to our home in Florida at the end of October, a few days prior to Kyla finishing her 30 rounds of proton radiation.
“I have always been really close with my mum so finally having her there with us was amazing, we had been wishing it would happen for so long.”
The past year has ‘completely changed’ Kyla
At St Jude’s Hospital, 500 miles north from the family’s home in Florida, Kyla will carry out treatment until July or August this year.
Mrs Gould said: “Kyla was always confident, proud and most definitely had some sass going on.”
However, she said this last year has “completely changed” Kyla.
Kyla’s mum said the five-year-old suffered more than cancer. As a result of where the tumour was, Mrs Gould said: “Kyla suffers from posterior fossa syndrome which meant she lost the ability to talk for a few days and then spoke very quietly for a few months.
“Her mobility was also impacted. She was unable to do simple things like sit up on her own and has been on a long journey with learning how to walk again.
“She also has facial paralysis to the right side of her face. Due to that she was unable to close her right eye and that caused her some discomfort.
“It has been really hard seeing my little girl go through everything she has been through.”
Writing a book so people know they are not alone
Mr Drysdale said they had been amazed by people’s support.
Many people offered encouragement, thoughts and prayers for Kyla online.
Family, friends and local businesses in the USA and Scotland have raised more than £22,000 for Kyla.
This outpouring of support encouraged the grandfather to start a book and share Kyla’s story.
“First and foremost it’s for Kyla to look back on in years to come,” he said. “But equally, it’s for Laura to share with other families.
“We agree even if we don’t publish it, at least people will see that they’re not by themselves.”
Mrs Gould said the book is for Kyla: “To look back on one day to see how strong she is and that she conquered cancer and that she can do anything.
“It’s something that I never thought I would want but I am so very grateful to my dad for putting so much time and effort into it.”
Mr Drysdale said he hopes for Kyla’s recovery: “The only thing I want is my granddaughter back to a healthy five-year-old.”
“My wife and I, and probably others, would quite easily lay down so she could have a life.”