Izzy's siblings sent video messages while she was in hospital

An afternoon we will never forget

Three days before Izzy’s second birthday, she developed some rash-like spots on her legs. After a visit to the GP on a Friday afternoon, and a subsequent trip to the out of hours clinic the next day after the rash had spread, Izzy was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL). It was an afternoon we will never forget.

No clear signs of cancer

Izzy’s treatment

The first eight months of treatment were toughest, with Izzy feeling the effects of the treatment; nausea, tiredness and hair loss. Her immune system was compromised, so she missed out on parties and had to avoid sick family members.

After that the treatment was smaller doses of chemotherapy given at home every day. Izzy was never keen on the medicine, but over time, put up with it. The treatment plan was dauntingly long at first, but day by day, dose by dose, we slowly counted down the days until the end of treatment.

Izzy’s big sister Sophie regularly sent short videos to say hi when she was not able to visit in hospital herself, and always had plenty of cuddles when Izzy was at home. Izzy’s little brother Fred was born whilst she was in hospital, so Izzy had to wait five nights before she was able to meet him in person, but enjoyed telling nurses and ward mates she had a new baby brother.

End of treatment

Izzy has been lucky, she responded well to the treatment, and she was able to ring the End of Treatment Bell with her family in May 2019. We celebrated with a lovely cake the oncology clinic team arranged for us, followed by a camping trip with family and friends.

There were plenty of follow up appointments to come, but she was able to start school in September 2019 with her friends and did really well. She enjoys playing nurses, and would like to be one when she grows up.

Izzy has made and, tragically, lost friends on the wards, and we are now sending best wishes to other patients who have suffered relapses and complications.

Thanks to charities like Children with Cancer UK

Izzy’s treatment was made a lot easier thanks to a place on the UKALL 2011 trial, which is funded by a range of charities including Children with Cancer UK and offered Izzy a new, kinder treatment plan.

To help Children with Cancer UK support future research and families, Izzy’s Dad Dave ran the 2020 Virgin Money London Marathon as part of the Children with Cancer UK team.

Update: October 2020

In April 2020, Izzy experienced pain in her legs. Test identified that this was caused by a relapse of her leukaemia. Izzy spent over five weeks in hospital and tests identified a course of chemotherapy similar to what she had received when she was first diagnosed.

Her treatment went well, however, unfortunately in August, Izzy suffered an infection that resulted in emergency surgery and a stay in intensive care.

Thanks to great support from hospital staff, Izzy has come through this, and was able to start at her new school in October. After some time receiving Blinatumomab, a newly available treatment to keep leukaemia at bay during a break from chemotherapy, Izzy was able to resume her treatment programme.

Update: March 2023

Izzy received regular chemotherapy until late August 2022, when she was able to once again ring the bell to mark the end of her course of chemotherapy. She still has monthly trips to her local hospital for check ups, and the fear of relapse comes back with any sign of pain in her legs, headaches, or bruising. There are some procedures ahead to remove some scar tissue left behind after her infection, but that is for the future. She is doing amazingly well at school (with the odd bit of time off for appointments) and living a normal life to the fullest.