In Loving Memory of Vivica

It is with the heaviest hearts that we share the devastating news of the sudden loss of Vivica, a vibrant and loved 15-year-old girl from Ipswich, UK. Vivica passed away on 1 July 2025 at St Mary’s Hospital in London after an unexpected and rapid decline in her health.

Vivica was under the care of both Ipswich and Addenbrooke’s Hospital, where dedicated teams supported her and her family throughout her life. She was then transferred to St Mary’s Hospital for a bone marrow transplant.

Vivica had lived with Sickle Cell Disease all her life. In March this year, she received a bone marrow transplant. It felt like the beginning of something new. For the first time, we could picture a future for her that wasn’t shaped by illness. She was recovering well, smiling again, and excited about everything she hoped to do.

But on 22 June, Vivica was readmitted to hospital with a fever. At first, she was stable, but within days her condition worsened. Despite the relentless efforts of the ICU team, Vivica suffered three cardiac arrests. She passed away after the third. We are completely heartbroken.

Vivica was so much more than her illness. She was bright, bold, funny and full of life. She had a spark that drew people in and a laugh that filled the room. She loved art, movies, music, dancing, and good food (especially when it was spicy!). She loved being surrounded by her people. Her friends were her world, and she was always the one bringing joy, mischief, and warmth wherever she went.

She was a student at Chantry Academy in Ipswich, where she was cherished by her teachers and deeply loved by her friends. The news of her passing has left the whole school community shaken. Her friends are devastated. They’ve shared memories, tributes, and even created the acronym LLV – Long Live Vivica – as a way to honour her and keep her spirit alive.

Vivica had dreams of becoming an architect. She dreamed of travelling the world with Chelsea. She wanted to learn how to swim, something she couldn’t do because of her condition. More than anything, she just wanted to be a teenager. To feel free. To live.

Chelsea, her only sibling and best friend, was her bone marrow donor and her anchor. She is utterly devastated, but determined to carry Vivica’s light forward.

We are raising funds to give Vivica the beautiful farewell she deserves. Her funeral will be held at her school, surrounded by the people who loved her most – her friends, family, her teachers, her community.

Any remaining funds will go towards launching the LLV Foundation – created in Vivica’s name, with the support of her school friends. The foundation will raise awareness and campaign for real change so that Sickle Cell receives the attention and resources it deserves, just like any other long-term illness.

Thank you for your love, your prayers and your support during this unimaginable time.

With love,

Vivica’s family