Denisa’s cancer journey

Denisa seems just like any other 8 year old girl – beautiful and smiley in her pink bunny PJs and matching slippers with bunny ears, she loves clothes and shoes in equal measure - except that since August 2015 Denisa has also been battling cancer. The cancer, Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma or ALCL for short, is proving both aggressive and tenacious.

It’s back - Throughout 2015 and 2016, Denisa has endured many procedures and operations, and a 6-month intensive round of Chemotherapy at Great Ormond Street Hospital, to rid her pancreas and lower left leg of ALCL. Hopes were raised and cruelly dashed again: the longed-for all-clear lasted just 7 days, and in October 2016 her medical team broke the news that the ALCL was back.
Bone-marrow match
Denisa needs bone marrow transplant, urgently. It could take months to find a match, and Denisa’s immediate family are not suitable candidates. Once the match is found, and as long as there are no complications, her recovery could take up to 18 months.

Clinical trial - In the interim, Denisa’s family are hoping for a place on a clinical trial at the Royal Marsden Hospital. A new drug is in development, designed to slow down the ALCL and give time for a stem cell donor to be found.

Denisa’s mum Chrissy, is a single mother and has had to take an extended leave of absence from work to be in the hospital with Denisa. Chrissy’s employer has done all they can to support Chrissy and her family over the last 12 months but now that support has ended and the family are facing a very uncertain future with no money coming in.

Please, could you help support Denisa and her family by making a donation. They face a long and heart-breaking journey and your donation will help lighten their load.