Just over a year ago, our daughter Emma was diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma, a cancer of the soft tissues. She started treatment immediately and her life, and ours, were turned upside down.

Emma went bravely through 9 rounds of chemotherapy, 28 sessions of radiotherapy (all under general anaesthetics) and responded really well to that first phase of treatment. Despite becoming extremely weak at times, she always managed to win the hearts of people around her with her unlimited affection and fun personality.

She started getting better over the summer, but sadly a new tumour was found in her throat in October, indicating an early relapse. Options for treatments are now far more limited. In addition to 12 new rounds of chemotherapy, her medical team believe that the best chance of controlling the disease is for her to undergo a treatment called AMORE, which, due to the location of her tumour, can only be carried out at the Princess Maxima Center in the Netherlands. The procedure involves a major surgery to remove the tumour, followed by the insertion of rods in the neck in order to deliver brachytherapy radiation.

This treatment is not available on the NHS and needs to be self-funded so this is a call for help to raise the €50,000 required for the treatment, plus fees for pre-treatment trips required to the centre.

Emma is strong and determined, curious, funny, full of life, and incredibly caring. She loves singing, dancing and performing whenever she gets a chance! She is a wonderful big sister and has so much to bring to this world. Any help you can give will go towards giving her the best chance at life.

Thank you ever so much,

Emma’s family

p.s. We are still waiting for confirmation that the treatment can go ahead and if it cannot for some reason we will refund the donations