--- title: "Cancer returns 3 days before girl’s 3rd birthday, parents struggle with bills despite selling home and car" url: "/trending-now/cancer-returns-3-days-girls-3rd-birthday-parents-struggle-bills-despite-selling-home-and-car" published: "2026-10-26T10:25:54.000Z" updated: "2026-10-26T10:26:35.000Z" section: "Trending Now" authors: ["Trixy Toh"] tags: ["TNP News","cancer","child cancer","birthday","SINGAPORE HOSPITALS","medical bills","raise funds"] --- # Cancer returns 3 days before girl’s 3rd birthday, parents struggle with bills despite selling home and car *A girl’s cancer returned just days before her third birthday, months after she underwent gruelling treatment in Singapore, leaving her parents struggling to pay medical bills despite selling their home and car back in Indonesia.* Just months after scans showed no signs of cancer, a little girl who had endured gruelling treatment in Singapore was dealt another blow — the disease had returned, just three days before her third birthday. According to Shin Min Daily News, Leticia Briella Magaline who was diagnosed with stage 4 neuroblastoma at just 18 months old, had endured months of gruelling treatment. Her parents, who had once been told she might have only six months to live, thought the worst was finally behind them. But in June 2026, their hopes were shattered when doctors discovered that the cancer had returned. Now, her parents are desperately trying to raise enough money for further treatment, having already sold their home and car in Indonesia to pay her medical bills. ![girl cancer parents medical bills](https://cassette.sphdigital.com.sg/image/stomp/e7d55593110b499d5c71ddf61a0781b618931f0ca2619cacfcb9bbc75605c2ae) *The couple brought Leticia to Singapore for treatment* ## Given just six months to live at 18 months old Leticia was born on June 14, 2023, in Luwuk, Indonesia, and is the youngest of three children. Her father, Brian, 36, said Leticia began experiencing low-grade fevers when she was 18 months old. Doctors at a clinic initially thought she had a common cold, but her condition failed to improve. Seeking answers, the family took her to Makassar and Surabaya in Indonesia for medical treatment, where doctors eventually discovered a tumour. By then, the tumour was pressing against her organs, leaving Leticia unable to drink milk or pass stools. Desperate to save their daughter after being told she might have only months to live, Brian and his wife, Elisabeth Macpal, brought her to Singapore for treatment. They had to make the difficult decision of leaving their two sons, aged five and eight, in their hometown in Indonesia under their grandparents’ care. Although they miss their sons dearly, Brian said they had no choice but if they wanted Leticia to receive treatment in Singapore. At KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital (KKH), Leticia was diagnosed with stage 4 high-risk neuroblastoma, an aggressive form of childhood cancer that had spread to her bones and other organs. Neuroblastoma is a rare cancer that develops from immature nerve cells, most commonly in infants and young children. “We were devastated. Our only wish was to have a chance to save our daughter,” said Brian. ![girl cancer parents medical bills](https://cassette.sphdigital.com.sg/image/stomp/f44e60a7b115baec9896260c68d83f7e48da91925173e857764b6bf1009dc7f8) *“We were devastated. Our only wish was to have a chance to save our daughter,” said Brian.* ## Girl tried to walk just 2 days after 14-hour surgery With the help of an initial fundraising campaign that raised $439,000, Leticia underwent seven cycles of chemotherapy, a 14-hour surgery and a bone marrow transplant. During the operation, doctors removed a large tumour measuring about 12cm. Despite the gruelling treatment, Leticia continued to show remarkable determination. Brian described his daughter as a cheerful, happy little girl who refused to give up even when she was in pain. Just two days after her 14-hour surgery, she was already trying to stand and walk again. “Although she was crying and saying it hurt, she still kept trying to walk,” he recalled. By February 2026, scans showed no signs of cancer. “We were filled with hope,” Brian said. But that hope was short-lived. Just four months later, during a follow-up appointment in June, the family received devastating news: the cancer had returned, just three days before Leticia’s third birthday. She immediately resumed chemotherapy and will subsequently continue treatment with oral chemotherapy medication at home. “The doctors have recommended a combination of chemotherapy and immunotherapy, as well as another bone marrow transplant,” Brian said. “We are doing everything we can to raise enough money to cover the treatment costs.” ## Parents sell home and car, but still struggle with medical bills In a letter on Give.Asia, Leticia’s mother, Elisabeth, described her daughter as the family’s sunshine, joy and miracle. “She brought light into our lives from the moment she opened her eyes. Her giggles filled our home, and her tiny feet loved to chase her two older brothers around,” she said. However, the financial burden has been overwhelming. Elisabeth said the medical costs in Singapore were “far beyond anything (they) could have imagined”. Despite selling their home and car, the couple are still struggling to pay for Leticia’s treatment. They have launched another fundraising campaign on Give.Asia, hoping to raise $1.3 million to continue her care. More than $930,000 has been raised to date. Brian thanked everyone who had generously donated and supported the family through their ordeal. For Elisabeth, the hope is simply to give her little girl another chance at life. “Leticia has shown us what true bravery looks like. We humbly ask you to stand with her once more,” Elisabeth wrote. Those who wish to support Leticia’s treatment can visit her Give.Asia fundraising page.