Zara

Our journey began October 2019, my daughter Zara was going to school like any other day. She had been sick twice in September and our GP prescribed antibiotics, thinking it was just a nasty virus. She also had swelling under her eyelids, so we decided to visit an ophthalmologist but couldn't get an appointment. Back to the GP we went and this time she suggested blood tests. That evening, as my husband and I were watching TV, we got a call from the hospital saying that Zara's blood tests had revealed life-threateningly low platelet levels. We rushed her to our local hospital where doctors worked through the night asking questions and running more tests. The next morning, a haematologist delivered the devastating news, Zara had cancer.

Our world was turned upside down. Zara was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) and needed intensive treatment. I remember her chemotherapy treatment began on 20th October 2019, which continued until May 2021, overlapping the COVID-19 pandemic. AML requires intense inpatient treatment with many side effects which meant we were in the hospital almost continuously during that time with only brief breaks that gave us the chance to get back home. Zara's little brother Sammy, who just turned 10, was also deeply affected by her illness. He struggled with feelings of insecurity, fearing we might leave him again as we had to stay with Zara in the hospital. It was desperately sad to see how the situation has impacted him, but we tried our best to reassure him.

During her treatment, Zara experienced severe pain and needed morphine. She was in the ICU for a few days and despite the challenges, managed to go into remission. However, in early 2021 I requested a follow-up blood test for peace of mind. The results were devastating, Zara's cancer had returned. I remember I had to pick Zara up from school to take her back to Southampton and that was completely heartbreaking for both of us. I remember the long drive to the hospital, she sat on the backseat of the car in tears, it was so unfair. She needed immediate treatment as her platelets were again critically low and she chemotherapy immediately. Although Zara was only nine when she relapsed, I am proud to say the she faced each challenge with remarkable courage. In June 2022, Zara underwent a bone marrow transplant with donor cells from the USA. The intense chemotherapy before the transplant was grueling and the side effects were severe, including graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). Zara couldn't eat for almost a year and was in constant pain. We spent over six months in the hospital, from June to January.

Today, Zara is doing much better. She loves school and has even become the Head Girl of her primary school. Despite the challenges, she has excelled academically and socially. The journey has been incredibly tough, but we are so grateful for how far we have come. The support from Abby's Heroes has made a world of difference, they were an absolute lifeline! They provided financial help and emotional support during the most challenging times. We received grants that helped cover expenses, allowing us to focus on Zara's recovery without the added stress of financial worries. They helped us through such an awful time for our family, taking away the some of the worries about money that allowed Zara's dad to be able to take some time off from work and accompany us to hospital stays and appointments.