Tilly's Story.....

In October 2023 our daughter Tilly (aged 3 at the time) woke up one night screaming complaining of a pain in her leg.

She soon went back to sleep so we brushed it off and put it down to growing pains.

Days later she developed a slight limp so we phoned the Doctors who advised that we should take her to Poole Hospital.

Initially we were sent away without any cause for concern but were recalled several days later for further tests.

The scan results showed a shadowing in the bone marrow and outer soft tissue of her left femur but the medical professionals were unsure of the diagnosis.

After weeks of uncertainty Tilly was admitted to the Royal National Orthopedic Hospital in Stanmore for a Bone Biopsy.

In that November we had a call from a Consultant at Stanmore who explained that she had a very rare form of Bone Cancer called Ewings Sarcoma.

This catastrophic news turned our world upside down overnight but with 9 months of treatment ahead we had to focus and stay strong not only for Tilly but for her big brother Albi too.

The initial stages of treatment at Southampton were intense with various operations including surgery to remove one of her ovaries for preservation.

The Cancer responded well to the first 9 rounds of Chemotherapy as further scans showed a considerable shrinkage of the tumor within the bone.

Ground breaking surgery followed which involved removal of her Femur containing the cancer and replacing it with a metal prothesis and donor bone from an adult humerus.

We were told that Tilly wouldn't be able to weight bear on her leg for at least 12 weeks and it would be a further 5 months before she would be walking. With shear determination she quickly progressed from a wheelchair, to a walker, then crutches and she is now walking around unaided to the amazement of her Physio.

The final 5 rounds of Chemotherapy were tough on her little body but she has finished treatment now and we are just waiting for the final few tests before she can ring the bell to say she is Cancer free.

Tilly is a role model to us all and has been truly amazing throughout her treatment melting the hearts of all those that have cared for her. There have been many dark days on this journey but somehow she has remained positive throughout never without a cheeky smile on her face.

We have set up a Just Giving page to raise money for Piam Brown Ward at Southampton Hospital where Tilly underwent most of her treatment. We cannot thank them enough and have nothing but admiration for their hardworking team of Consultants, Nurses and Social Workers who all went above and beyond in taking such good care of us and our little girl. We wouldn't have got through this without you - Thankyou.

I (Tilly's Dad) and my sister are planning to undertake the world first Pedal, Paddle Plod as we call it. The challenge includes a 60 mile bike ride across the New Forest, a 20 mile paddleboard down the River Stour finishing with a 20 mile walk along the Jurassic coast. We are no Olympians so we have set a realistic target of completing the challenge over 3 consecutive days.

The money raised will help towards purchasing another specialist rucksack which allows medicines to be administered whilst the children are on the move. This gives them more independence and enables them to venture off the ward to get much needed exercise and fresh air rather than being confined to their rooms during treatment.

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving - they'll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they'll send your money directly to the charity. So it's the most efficient way to donate - saving time and cutting costs for the charity.

Piam Brown Ward is the Wessex children's cancer unit. They care for children from birth to 16 years old with all forms of cancer. The charity fund is part of Southampton Hospital Charity and all donations to the ward are kept in a ring fenced fund to benefit the children in our care and their families.