Help 10 yr old Libby through her cancer treatment
10 years ago our beautiful daughter Libby was born. She was perfect, ten fingers, ten toes, we didn’t realise how lucky we were. In two weeks time she is supposed to be starting her final year of primary school with her friends, such an exciting time, especially after all the disruption over the past year with lockdowns and classes split into bubbles. A bright, confident girl, her last school report said she was thriving in all areas. Only, Libby won’t be back in school next month, running around the playground, having sleepovers with friends, or going to her beloved cheerleading classes.
Last week Libby was rushed into A&E with stomach pains. She was then moved twice by ambulance, an hour from home, to Nottingham University Hospital QMC. Our worst fears were confirmed when the doctors found a tumour. Instead of playing out at the park, that weekend Libby had countless injections, scans and intrusive tests. Scary enough for an adult, but truly terrifying for a 10 year old.
A week later, Libby was feeling more comfortable thanks to the amazing team at NUH QMC and some very strong painkillers, but then came the diagnosis. Neuroblastoma. Worse still, while the solid tumour was in her abdomen, it had swept aggressively through her body, with the scans showing cancerous cells in her spine, jaw, hip, knees and under her skull.
Devastated doesn’t even come close. I don’t think there is even a word to describe how we felt. The doctor tried to explain to us the next steps, but I couldn’t hear any words. I just sat and sobbed. How was I going to explain this to Libby? How could I explain the pain she was going to face? That she couldn’t see her friends and family except through a window as her immune system would be so weak. That she may permanently lose her hearing and be unable to have children. That she would lose her beautiful plaits as her hair would start to fall out. Did she already know? She’s a smart kid and around her are other sick children. It was just too much.
My family have been so supportive, driving my partner and Libby’s younger brother Logan up to wave at us through the hospital doors, along with magazines, treats, even ingredients to make a cake! But then the worry of finances kicked in. I run a small cleaning service. How could I carry on working, going from house to house, with Libby’s immune system almost non-existent? How could I afford to take the next 3 months off for her Chemotherapy? What would happen after that, when she has her surgery and radiotherapy? And after that with the further high-dose chemo and immunotherapy.
We are setting up this Go Fund Me page for Libby, if anyone would like to either arrange a fundraising activity, or is able to donate. With the money, we are looking to buy Libby a few wigs to help her feel more normal again, and to treat her to some fun days out when she is feeling well enough. We would also like to be able to donate to NUH QMC to buy toys and help towards the cost of the fun activities put on for the children there.
Thank you, Mara x
