Mollie is our beautiful 4 year old daughter.

In July 2020 Mollie was taken to A&E at the Princess Royal University Hospital after developing a sharp pain in her hip overnight. An operation a few days later released pressure from an infection and reduced her pain. A scan during this process showed evidence of abnormal cells in her hips and after 3 weeks of tests and scans Mollie was diagnosed with Stage 4 Neuroblastoma.

Further tests at The Royal Marsden and King's College hospitals showed that 90cm tall Mollie had a 10cm long tumour in her abdomen, which was impacting on her major arteries and organs. These scans also showed that the disease had spread to 14 other sites across her body, including her skull, spine, limbs and bone marrow.

With this diagnosis we were advised that Mollie had a 40% chance of survival.

Following this devastating news Mollie began an intense treatment protocol under the care of The Royal Marsden hospital; undergoing an initial course of months-long aggressive chemotherapy, before major surgery at St George's hospital. She spent Christmas in hospital receiving high-dose chemotherapy and a dangerous stem cell transplant.

Mollie spent many long days and nights away from her family and friends whilst she displayed bravery and fortitude no child should have to show. She was fortunate to be able to survive through all of these horrible procedures which carry severe and significant long-term health and lifestyle challenges to her; including death, secondary cancers, hearing loss, growth and puberty challenges, mental health impacts and infertility.

In Spring of 2021 she began radiotherapy treatment on the site of her tumour with the goal of reducing the chance of it returning. She was also fortunate to have then been able to receive a six-month course of Immunotherapy to try to keep cancer away. At that time this treatment had only been available on the NHS for around 3 years, the result of campaigning by Solving Kids Cancer - a charity who has been supporting us throughout.

Throughout this we documented the many trials that Mollie suffered with her wonderful disposition shining through even as she suffered. We also began an initial fundraising campaign which has now closed.

This campaign was to try to raise enough money to have the opportunity to travel to Memorial Sloan Kettering hospital in New York City to take advantage of additional treatment for Neuroblastoma, that is only available at that hospital. This requires Mollie to have been, and remain, cancer free following her treatment as well as around £280,000 in total costs. Whilst we haven't raised the full amount required we were very fortunate to be able to begin this treatment in November 2021 and she has recently completed her fourth trip to NYC as part for her treatment.

Mollie is having scans in late July 2022 that will let us know if she remains cancer free. Her initial prognosis of 40% has improved significantly to 80% - this sounds great but a 1 in 5 chance of your daughter dying within 3 years remains horrifying. If the next or any future scans do show evidence of the cancer returning then we have been informed her survival chances drop to somewhere around 5%. We continue to rely on the incredible kindness of friends and strangers to help support Mollie on her journey.

We are incredibly grateful to all many, many healthcare professionals who have cared for Mollie with such ferocious love and dedication over the last two years, and will continue to do so for the journey ahead.

Thank you so much.

Kevin, Sian, Mollie, Leo and Ben

https://www.facebook.com/HelpMolliemc-112914357220022

https://www.instagram.com/helpmolliemc/