Help make Layla’s dreams come true

Hi, my name is Lisa and together with my friend Jodie, I am taking part in the Glasgow 10k Race for Life on May 19th. We are also attempting a Ben Nevis climb in June/July. Precise date tbc. We are hoping to raise money for my dearest friend Ashleys’s little girl Layla, who is currently under going radiotherapy treatment for a rare form of cancer. I have posted Layla’s story below in her mums own words. Watching Layla and her family go through this is truly heart breaking and I want to do all I can to help them.

Thank you for taking the time to read this and we appreciate any donations. With your help we can contribute to making a little girls biggest dreams come true. #teamlayla

“On the 8th of November 2021, at the age of 21 months, our beautiful little Layla was diagnosed with cancer. We were given the devastating news that she had a massive brain tumour and would need emergency surgery to remove it. We were told things no parent should ever have to hear. Layla went through a 10 hour posterior fossa craniotomy where her neurosurgeon was able to remove 100% of the tumour with minimal damage. We thought we were over the worst but tests revealed she had Grade 3 Ependymoma. Unfortunately the treatment she needed isn’t available in Scotland so we had to go to Manchester. We spent 7 weeks in Manchester where Layla endured 33 rounds of proton radiotherapy. We were separated as a family with me spending my time in Manchester with Layla and Darren up here with Kelsi and Darren in an attempt to keep things as normal as possible for them. Layla rang her bell on the 18th of February and we thought our nightmare was over.

The type of cancer Layla has is carried through the spinal fluid, so for that reason she received regular scans of her head, neck and spine to check everything was clear. Unfortunately by some cruel, sick twist of fate, on the 8th of a November 2023, exactly 2 years after her initial diagnosis, we were given the news that Layla had relapsed. Her oncologist advised that while her head was clear, there were now around 8 tiny tumours on her spinal cord. On the 21st of November, at the age of 3, Layla went through her fourth surgery. The surgery took 7 hours and displaced every nerve in her back and bottom. Part of the largest tumour was removed but the rest were inoperable because they’re attached to her spinal cord.

The type of cancer Layla has is rare with only around 30 cases per year in the U.K. and around 400 world wide. The small number of cases makes it incredibly difficult to research meaning very little progress has been made over the last few decades. As a result, our only chance of saving Layla is to put her through another 33 rounds of full craniospinal radiotherapy. The impact of CSI on a child as young as Layla will have devastating consequences for her future. I have spent so many sleepless nights researching different trials, experimental drugs, American research hospitals. Anything and everything I could think of in an attempt to avoid the radiotherapy, the reality is, this is our only option.

Layla will begin radiotherapy at the Beatson and attend every day Monday-Friday until April when she’ll then begin an experimental treatment that is currently being trialled.

Our little warrior is the bravest, smartest, sassiest, funniest and all round delightful wee girl. She absolutely loves life and sees every day as an adventure. She spends so much time in hospital and where most kids would complain, Layla wants to stay longer and do more exploring. Even being in hospital Christmas Day and Boxing Day didn’t phase her. Nothing ever gets her down and her attitude is what gets her through this. It’s what gets us all through it. She’s been defying doctors odds since the day she was born and won more battles at the age of 4 than most adults will ever fight in their lifetime.”