University Dreams to a Rare Cancer: Help me help my daughter

Hi, my name is Michelle, and I’m reaching out to ask for your support for my amazing daughter, Ellie, who at just 19 years old has recently diagnosed with a rare Acute Lymphoblastic Lymphoma (ALL). Our world has been turned upside down in just a few weeks, and we need your help.

Ellie was about to start her second year at university studying backstage theatre Production Arts when this summer she began experiencing severe pain in her back and leg. Misdiagnosed by various doctors during the summer as sciatica, the pain worsened until it became unbearable. I took her to A&E where we received the devastating news that she has cancer. Over the past few weeks, she has undergone biopsies, scans, and now started chemotherapy as we face this battle head-on, but her fight is just beginning.

Why We Need Your Help

As her mother, I’ve been by her side every step of the way, and it has become clear that we are in this for the long haul. As it has just been the two of us for 17 years, I’ve always worked as self-employed so I could be there whenever Ellie needed me. However, I never imagined I’d need to be available for something as frightening as this.

In these last few weeks, I’ve hardly been able to work, which means we have little income coming in. When I spoke to advisors about potential government support, I was shocked to hear that I might need to go into debt just to cover the basics—rent, bills, and essential living expenses. Ellie and I have always been resilient and strong, but this situation has completely upended our lives.

On a recent visit to support me, my friend Mandy suggested I reach out for help through GoFundMe. Asking for help is something I’ve always struggled to do but this situation is way bigger than me or my pride. I’m in total overwhelm trying to manage everything, and all I want to do is be by my daughter’s side, helping her through every stage of this rotten journey.

Normally, I’m the kind of person who turns to research and wants to understand every detail, but this discovery frightened the life out of me. Dipping in and out of Google, reading survival statistics, was terrifying. Just a few days ago, I found out that if this hadn’t been diagnosed, it’s very likely my daughter wouldn’t have survived the next few weeks or months. That news was devastating and sent me spiraling with endless 'what ifs'—what if I hadn’t pushed for the scan? What if I never got to see her again?

I know any parent reading this will understand that shock—the thought alone is too much to bear. While I’m so relieved we pushed for the scan when we were in A&E I can’t help but wish we were never in this situation to begin with.

My daughter, Ellie, is currently in the hospital and will be for the foreseeable future as we navigate her diagnosis and treatment for rare Acute Lymphoblastic Lymphoma. Right now, my days are spent travelling back and forth to the hospital, being with her as we navigate the uncertainties ahead. Her cancer has presented itself in a rare form, and although she’s being treated for Acute Lymphoblastic Lymphoma (ALL), the doctors have told us this is an unusual case. Ellie has gained national medical attention—not quite the kind of recognition she ever wanted! This process could take at least two years, and as her treatment intensifies, so will her need for care and support.

I’ve always worked hard to manage life’s challenges and make ends meet, but this situation has been overwhelming, and I’m finding it difficult to keep up. The financial support we need is to help with the basics—rent, utilities, and everyday living costs—so I can focus on being there for my daughter during these incredibly tough times without the added strain of worrying about keeping up with our expenses.

How You Can Help?

Any donation, no matter the size, would provide enormous relief during this incredibly challenging time. Your generosity would allow me to focus on being with Ellie as she battles through chemotherapy and navigates this long road to recovery. It would relieve the constant worry about her illness and the added stress of how we will keep a roof over our heads or whether I’ll be forced into debt. Managing all that this new path is taking us on is overwhelming and first and foremost I want to be by my daughter’s side as she faces the treatments and the consultant meetings and updates.

Many of our friends will be reading this for the first time, and I apologise for the shock this news may bring to those who know Ellie. She is incredibly brave and positive, always laughing and smiling, and she somehow manages to make this process easier for those around her.

Cancer is so cruel, and it’s impossible to know what cards life will deal you. This was never on our radar, and my knowledge of this illness and its many forms was limited. Just as her adult life was beginning and she was thriving, this has turned our world upside down. We desperately need to get through this difficult time so she can continue pursuing her passion for Theatre Lighting Design, and my greatest joy will be watching her fulfill her dreams.

Thank you for taking the time to read our story. If you’re also on a similar journey, my heart goes out to you. The pressures of life can be overwhelming even in the best of times, but facing such illnesses magnifies that stress exponentially. If you’re able to donate or share our story, we are incredibly grateful for any help you can provide.

Thank you.

Michelle