Arabella

In October 2022, I was preparing to return to work after maternity leave with my son Myles. My daughter Arabella, then five and about to turn six, was looking forward to a relaxed half-term holiday. However, our plans changed abruptly when Liam’s stepdad died unexpectedly, turning our half-term break into a trip to Cornwall for the funeral. Arabella had been generally unwell for about three weeks. She had a persistent cough, but since we'd all had colds recently, I didn't think much of it. Family members in Cornwall noted her weight loss, but I attributed it to a recent growth spurt and dismissed their concerns. When Arabella became breathless while exercising, we thought it might be asthma, so I took her to the GP. Fortunately, the GP offered a same-day appointment. This was the beginning of our nightmare.

The GP was alarmed by Arabella's breathing and recommended an immediate visit to A&E. Liam took her, where she underwent a chest X-ray and a full examination. Then, I received the worst phone call of my life: Liam called to say they suspected Arabella had cancer. My world crumbled in an instant. Arabella was transferred to Piam Brown, the paediatric oncology ward, that very day. Things quickly worsened. Arabella had two tumors, leading doctors to believe her cancer had spread. She needed emergency chemotherapy, but there were concerns about her ability to recover from the operation required to fit a central line. Arabella underwent her first operation, but due to the tumours crushing her lungs and heart, she was transferred to the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU).

That first night in PICU, the staff handed me a pizza provided by Abby's Heroes. I hadn’t even thought about eating, not wanting to leave Arabella’s bedside. That pizza gave me the strength to continue. I was physically and emotionally shattered, almost needing a reminder to take care of myself. The next day, we received a welfare pack from Abby's Heroes, including parking passes and food vouchers, which meant we had one less thing to worry about while focusing on Arabella’s recovery. After ten tense nights in PICU, Arabella was well enough to move back to Piam Brown. Celebrating a return to the oncology ward was surreal, but our lives had changed dramatically in those two weeks. On the ward, the Family Support Workers from Abby's Heroes became our lifeline. Their visits were a respite from bad news; they listened to my worries, offered support, and cheered up both Arabella and me. With no family nearby and friends unable to visit, they became our support network.

It took over ten weeks to receive Arabella’s formal diagnosis: stage 4 extra-renal Wilms tumor. In January 2023, she had an operation to remove one tumor, and we learned she would need radiotherapy in London. The thought of navigating London with a seriously ill child was daunting, but the Family Support Workers reassured me and shared their experiences, making the situation feel more manageable.

Financially, Arabella's treatment was a significant strain. We had just managed to get through maternity leave and were preparing for my return to work. Arabella required 24 cycles of chemotherapy, with numerous emergency hospital admissions for fever spikes. These unplanned trips meant we often couldn’t bring food from home, leaving us with the choice of expensive hospital food or the meals funded by Abby's Heroes. The charity's support eased our financial burden and provided comfort during such a challenging time.

Abby's Heroes funded play therapy for her, which helped her process the significant changes in her life without my emotional influence. When we shared Arabella's diagnosis on social media, we set up a donation link for Abby's Heroes, trusting they would allocate the funds wisely to families in need. Later, we benefited from their financial support during our two-week stay in London for radiotherapy. Arabella’s selective eating habits made it difficult to find food she would eat, and the charity’s assistance helped us avoid debt.

Our mission became to repay the support we received and ensure other families had the same help. Arabella has been actively involved in fundraising, volunteering at events like the Watercress Festival and participating in the Inflatable 5k run. Liam completed challenges like walking up Snowdon, skydiving, and abseiling. I ran the Great South Run and the Inflatable 5k. My colleagues also contributed, doing a chilly swim and a walk from Portugal to Spain. Fundraising has given us a sense of purpose and reminded us of the importance of kindness and helping others.

Arabella is now doing well. She rang the bell in April 2024, marking the end of her treatment, and used her end-of-treatment money to buy a Nintendo Switch. Without the support of Abby's Heroes, the past 18 months would have been unimaginably harder, both financially and emotionally. We are incredibly grateful for everything they have provided and hope they continue their invaluable work for many years to come. If you would like to chat, please contact info@abbys-heroes.org and they will connect us.