Please can everyone share, we need help now more than ever

Carla is a beautiful, kind and intelligent 15 year old girl. She was just beginning her life as a teenager, more independence, making plans with friends & choosing her options for GCSE when in July 2025 she was unfortunately diagnosed with a rare type of bone cancer called Osteosarcoma which devastated her & her whole family.

Osteosarcoma only effects between 20 & 30 children in the UK each year.

The news took its toll on the whole family. Her little brother was just about to start secondry school when Carla started her Chemotherapy. As soon as they received the devastating news, Carla's mam Caroline had to take sick leave from her job, and focus on Carla's health, the appointments & procedures that followed meant that there was no way Caroline could go to work, and her dad Dale then had to make sure Carla's brother was taken care of whilst continuing to work as he is self employed. This usually close (do everything together) family was completely seperated from the beginning. This alone has been so difficult for them all to face, needing support from eachother but not being together.

Carla has been through so much; treatment consists of 3 different chemotherpy drugs, each with their own horrific side effects, long stays in hospital having treatment which is very intense. Losing her hair was particularly difficult for Carla, as a teenage girl its part of her developing identity and she has struggled to cope with that.

Several operations, one of which was over 8 hours long to remove the bone and tumour from her leg and replace 27cm of it with metal.

Her mobility has been massively effected and Carla now uses a wheelchair. She had to keep her leg straight for 10 weeks following the big operation, which was very difficult. She is now learning to walk again, which will take time.

Carla has a hickman line in her chest which chemotherapy is delivered through and allows the nurses to take her blood. This is accessed almost every day and is not for the faint hearted. The line is an infection risk as its an open wound to her heart. Carla's temperature needs to be closely monitored, taken twice a day at home and more during hospital stays. If she has a temperature, she has to go straight in to hospital to be given IV antibiotics as the risk of sepsis is huge!

Carla regularly has to endure blood transfusions & platelet transfusions, she has horrific nose bleeds, headaches, sickness and is often so tired she can't enjoy the few days per month she has at home.

Carla has had infections, rashes and temperatures, sore mouth to name a few, throughout which have all added to the stress and upset of this awful situation. Not to mention the strain on her mental health.

Despite everything she has gone through and still is, she smiles, shows strength and maturity way beyond her years, and hasnt stopped thinking of others, even making gifts for the other children on the ward, during her treatment.

This page was set up by Vicki, a close friend of Caroline's as i have seen how difficult life has been for this lovely family. Their world has been turned upside down.

It was initially started to help fund Carla's human hair wig which she now has, and the family are so greatful for each donation to help make this happen but as Carla's treatment is now 9 months on, the financial strain of no more statutory sick pay, extended hospital stays, travel costs and trying to provide Carla with nice things and days to make her smile again, are really taking its toll on this lovely family, so i ask that you please consider donating whatever you can to support them on this difficult journey. This family will do anything to help others.

Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts.