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Girl (11) from Kildare diagnosed with cancer after 'some headaches and swollen tongue'
Over €100,000 has been raised for Jaye Gibson from Naas, Co. Kildare who was tragically diagnosed with cancer at the end of 2025
Jaye (Jessica) Gibson from Naas, Co. Kildare
Reporter:
Rachel Kavanagh
12 Jan 2026 2:00 PM
An 11-year-old girl from Naas, Co. Kildare had her world flipped upside down when she was diagnosed with a devastating aggressive cancer.
Jaye (Jessica) Gibson is described as being "a funny, smart and vivacious 11 year old" who loves playing with her friends in Rathmore National School, Naas Serpents Basketball Club and Eadestown GAA.
She also loves singing, piano and doing drama with Stage Door & More and Kill Musical and Dramatic Society.
A GoFundMe was created for the young girl and her family after she was diagnosed with Alveolar Rhabdomyosarcoma, which is a very aggressive cancer, at the end of 2025.
The GoFundMe has accumulated over €100,000 from people all across the country who are heartbroken by the devastating news.
The young girl first started experiencing some headaches and a swollen tongue at the end of August 2025, which led discovering a benign tumour on the cranial nerves at the base of her brain. However, because of the location the tumour couldn't be biopsied.
Her parents were worried that her symptoms were getting worse over the next three weeks while special tests (genetic, hormone and PET scans) were being carried out.
After hearing this, the great team in Crumlin ordered a repeat MRI and this MRI scan shocked everyone - the tumour had doubled in size. It had grown so much that the surgeons were now able to biopsy it, according to a GoFundMe.
Jaye has been diagnosed with Alveolar Rhabdomyosarcoma, which is a very aggressive cancer.
Unfortunately, surgery is not an option given the location and associated risks, so within days of this diagnosis she started weekly chemotherapy, the GoFundMe stated.
She has signed up to a clinical trial to give her the best supports in her upcoming battle.
The young girl and one of her parents will be moving to Manchester for eight weeks this month where Jaye will undergo a special type of radiotherapy (proton beam therapy) as part of her treatment plan.
"Jaye is being an incredibly brave little girl and has faced the challenges of chemotherapy, hair loss and nerve damage with an awesome mix of good spirits and good humour. Her big brother Nathan and big sister Naomi have been by her side supporting her throughout, providing her with all the love and positive energy they can to keep her going," a GoFundMe said.
"Unfortunately this is the second time cancer has struck this family as Clara is continuing to recover from her 2021 breast cancer diagnosis and surgeries," the GoFundMe said.
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