Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

I am taking part in memory my beautiful little girl Ava Grace and in aid of Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research.

Ava was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukaemia on the 26th January 2010 at 8 weeks old, from that day and the following 8 months we lived our lives in Newcastle's RVI. Due to Ava's very young age she was unable to leave the hospital during treatment. 

We were told that she would undergo four months of Chemotherapy and the odds of it being a success were good, but to our devastation Ava suffered a relapse during the second course which meant a bonemarrow transplant was now her only chance of survival. 

Watching her body deal with the effects of chemo was one thing but the prospect of her going through the transplant came as a huge blow.

During the months leading up to the transplant the treatment continued and although we managed a few precious weekends at home with her, she felt at home in the hospital and became a little celebrity on the ward.

Ava courageously dealt with whatever came her way and after every one of the 17 operations still managed to bounce back.

After weeks spent searching for a donor a match was eventually found in America, this was something positive to grasp onto but it wasn't to last and 2 weeks before transplant day we were told that person was no longer available. 

My Daughters life was in the hands of others and it was the most harrowing experience of my life, I felt helpless but gained comfort from knowing that Ava had no awareness of it all. Eventually a mis-match stem cell donor was found and we were moved to Newcastle General Hospital to start the process.

I can still remember the feeling I had walking into there with her in my arms for the last time, something in the back of my mind was telling me to get back in the car and take her home.

Transplast day arrived and it felt like the beginning of a new life for her, for that one day we had hope and knew that whatever she had to go through the end was in sight.

A few days later Ava developed veno-occlusive disease, a condition that affects the liver. Treatment was given but due to the high volumes of fluids given along side the drugs needed following the transplant she became unable to breath and exhausted resulting in being placed on an inchubation.

The following weeks were a living nightmare and Ava was placed on dialysis, a drain and and any one point connected up to 8 drips leading to her central line.

On the 23rd September we were told that Ava may not make the night so we asked the hospital chaplain to carry out her baptism. To our disbelief she survived another five days on life support but a discussion with her consultant concluded that it was better to let her body finally rest. 

Ava Grace grew her wings on the 28th September 2010 x

Our Angel may not have survived Leukaemia but through the amazing work and constant research my chosen charity gave us time, time to get to know our little girl. Please show your support and help me raise so that other families can be given time and hope.