On 15 January after Aubrey had been unwell for a couple of weeks and seen by her GP and the A & E department at Bedford Hospital, where they felt she was suffering from a chest infection, Aubrey was then rushed to the Children's PICU at Addenbrookes Hospital in Cambridge and was diagnosed with a collapsed lung and fluid near the heart.

The first few days were the toughest for Anna and Paul when they were told their precious little girl had a tumor on her lung. Aubrey then had to endure surgery to drain off the fluid; the tumor was too large to be removed, so she immediately started chemotherapy treatment over 2 days. She then underwent a brain scan, an MRI scan and a bone marrow biopsy.

Anna and Paul were then given the dreaded news from the Consultant that this is a very rare form of cancer and further specialists at The Christie NHS Foundation Trust in Manchester and the Mayo Clinic in America who are leading experts in rare cancers are now trying to diagnose the findings.

Anna, Paul and Harry have a tough road ahead; Aubrey could be in hospital for 6 months or more, which will have a massive impact on their family life. Anna and Paul will not be able to work as they are taking turns to be by Aubrey’s bedside. Anna has had to leave her job with immediate effect and Paul's employer is being very supportive at this crucial time. Family and friends are desperately feeling helpless, and every little message means an awful lot to Anna and Paul.

We have decided as a family to set up this 'Just Giving' page to help Anna and Paul to ease their financial pressure of this long and painful journey, and for us all to come together to feel that we may be able to help in some way, no matter how small the donation, every penny and positive message counts for the coming year.

We would like to thank those who have already contributed over the last couple of weeks. We also thank you in advance for your donations and support and we will keep you updated with Aubrey’s progress.

Heartfelt message from Anna (Aubrey’s mummy) - 24 January 2021

Never take for granted your family, your health, your normal day to day life, it can change in an instant. For me time stood still on 16th January , when I was told my baby girl had a tumour on her lung, I knew right there that that my world had crashed right in front of me and I had to be the strongest mummy I could ever be for my little Aubrey.

I have had the most amazing support from my family and friends and I literally can’t thank them enough.

Paul and Harry I love you both dearly and we will get through this, we have to! Thank you for your strength and love which keeps pushing me on, each hour of every day.

Of course with our enemy COVID-19 in full swing, this has meant that my family now has split into two with only one parent being allowed to stay with Aubrey on the ward, mummy does 7 days and then daddy takes over for 7 days for as long as this journey takes us. There are strictly no siblings allowed to visit, so we don’t know when Harry will be able to see his little sister again.

I want you mums to know that your gut instinct as a mum is always right! I knew Aubrey was not very well but I was sent away by 2 doctors and was made to think I was overreacting. A week later Aubrey was literally sleeping the whole day … as we know for a 1 year old, this is unheard of! Never give up on your gut feeling when you know your child is not right. Aubrey only had minor symptoms to start with, a lot of sleeping and vomiting after she had eaten any solids, that was it … never would I have thought of the outcome we were given.

I found this really hard to write, as I still can’t get my head around it all but I think it also helps to talk and not bottle everything up. We are taking each day as it comes and I know my little darling will battle her way through this, she is already such a little fighter.

Anna xx