Hi, I am the incredibly proud Mum to Nelly. A kind, precious, beautiful and giving soul who is into month 6 of her incredibly brave but incredibly complex cancer journey.

Back in April our lives were violently shaken upside down when Nelly received the news that she sadly has Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma, a type of blood cancer. From a healthy young person, thriving and with the world at her feet to life being changed overnight. No 17 year old and family should have to sit through hearing those nightmarish words, making fertility decisions, making decisions about which wig colour would suit you best, which social worker and charities you would be allocated. Trauma on a level that is entirely unimaginable.

Once Nelly started her chemo treatment plan which included gruelling intrathecal spinal chemotherapy, things started becoming complex. Surgeries were botched leading to long term heart issues, twice her lung collapsed, pulmonary embolisms, blue light emergencies, STAPH infections in the inserted lines by her heart, a large tumour removed that sat between her lung and heart, a change of hospitals and life long medications. Mistakes were made. What was already the hardest time has become on some days unbearable. Long hospital stays, heartbreaking amounts of time with the family separated, excruciating physical and mental agony and time from being a 17 year old cruelly snatched away. Nelly turned 18 during this time missing out on all the precious moments a young girl should be taking part in.

Partway through Nelly’s journey the devastating news came that the chemo hadn't targeted aggressive cells and Nellys cancer had been found in another place and due to a further error a new strain of NHL was present leading to further surgeries, heartache and now currently in a much more challenging and prolonged regime including harsher immunotherapy treatments. A young body and mind suffering but trying her level best to manage.

Nelly would really benefit from any support she can be shown with plans to trial a costly hair system with hair loss being a truly painful aspect of her treatment. Much more user-friendly mobility aids, planned therapies and any further treatments to ensure Nellys ongoing journey is as comfortable as possible.

Nellys has requested we share her story and from Nelly, and us we would love to thank you in advance for your kindness, whether that be a small donation, share or positive comment.

Let’s keep Nelly fighting x