Help Ev Beat Cancer!

April 2024 Update:

We, as a family, can not thank you for all of the support you have given us over the last 7 months not only in your donations but in your words and kindness.

Everleigh has now finished her 12th and final round of chemotherapy! As Everleigh and her parents move forward with their oncology team, they are now looking at how they navigate life with regular scans, checking the effects of chemotherapy and radiotherapy and more planned surgery to remove Ev's Hickman line that has been her lifeline since October. They also need to navigate life after cancer and the mental load this leaves them with.

The next challenge that faces the family is Ev's mobility. The tumour and following surgeries mean that Ev has currently lost her ability to walk. Ev and her family face an UPHILL challenge alongside the physio teams both in hospital and at home. This will be a long and expensive journey to provide the best possible outcome for Ev.

Ev's Auntie Anna, and a group of her wonderful friends, are drawing strength from Ev's uphill challenge for mobility and are set to face their own UPHILL challenge: climbing Mount Snowdon. All to raise money to support Ev's journey back to her highest possible level of mobility! This round of fundraising is going to contribute to a standing wheelchair for Ev and an accessible mud kitchen for their garden, as well as generally adapting the Mcgregor household to be as accessible as possible now that Everleigh is home full time.

Thank you for taking the time to read about the amazing Everleigh. If you are able to support her to continue “EV’ING IT” in any way, then please donate or simply spread awareness by sharing the link below.

I am raising awareness and funds for my family;

The McGregors.

Thank you for taking the time to read this. It's a hard read, because it's an overwhelmingly difficult time and for anyone who knows us, it is devastating because it's happening to my family.

My sister, Kayleigh, and brother-in-law, Michael, have received the devastating news that their 3 year old daughter, Everleigh, has been diagnosed with ATRT (Atypical Teratoid Rhabdoid Tumour).

This type of cancer is extremely rare, malignant and aggressive. ATRT affects the spinal cord and the brain making this cancer exceptionally difficult to remove. The current protocol involves surgery, treatment through 12 rounds of chemotherapy and 6 weeks (30 fractions) of intense radiotherapy. Sadly, young children diagnosed with ATRT have poor responses to treatment due to the severity of this type of cancer. This isn’t a statistic that Ev’s family and her doctors are prepared to accept, and they are doing everything in their power to ensure that Ev is able to exceed ALL expectations.

Everleigh’s symptoms developed quickly; over the course of less than 1 month. Her family first noticed her symptoms whilst on holiday during the last week of August 2023 when she started waking in the night complaining of knee pain. Over the course of September 2023, her parents took her to multiple doctors, who were adamant it was growing pains. After many trips to their doctor’s surgery, A&E and their local hospital, she was again mis-diagnosed but this time with transient synovitis. After perseverance from the family who still felt something wasn’t right, she was eventually blue lighted to another hosital and given an MRI. On Friday 29th September 2023, Everleigh's family’s world was shattered when they heard that a 7.5cm tumour was growing in her spine.

Ev underwent intensive spinal surgery at the beginning of October to remove the majority of the tumour. As a result of the size of the tumour, Ev’s nerves were severely compressed and damaged meaning her right leg below the knee is now paralysed. Ev has had countless tests performed and is now in a wheelchair (which she has taken in her stride by already manoeuvring herself independently). Ev is also undergoing intense physiotherapy daily and unbelievably, her strength and determination, means she is figuring out new ways to move from A to B.

With the brutal strength and bravery of her family, Everleigh is currently persevering through the daily battles. Not only through the radiotherapy and chemotherapy, but through the affects that these cause: the NG tube fitted because she no longer wants to eat, the endless hours of exhaustion as her little body fights and the agony of every drug coursing through her tiny three-year-old body. The emotional and physical agony that Ev and her family are pushing through astounds those close to them every minute of the day.

Ev is our feisty, chatty, and a beautiful little girl whose strength and determination are beyond measure. She has overcome so many challenges already since her diagnosis and she continues to exceed all staff expectations involved in her care. Despite the horrendous things she has to endure daily, Everleigh still laughs, jokes and smiles. She is beyond inspirational and, in-fact, we have ran out of words to describe just how incredible she truly is, so we’ve started a new phrase: “EV’ING IT” - Definition: to overcome the impossible. Everleigh has been and continues to do just that, “EV’ING IT” every single day.

Everleigh is currently just over half-way through her intense radiotherapy regime where, due to her age, she needs general anaesthetic daily. She is also still under-going chemotherapy alongside. She still has a long journey ahead with ATRT treatment totalling a minimal intense 9 month period.

The money you donate will go towards supporting Kayleigh and Michael as they support their beautiful daughter. At present, this means financially supporting them to be able to make the two hour round trip to the hospital daily and to pay for nursery fees for their little boy, my nephew Dexter, so his life can remain as 'normal' as possible. Within the coming months, your donation will mean that Kayleigh and Michael will be able to pay their mortgage and bills (when both of them lose all or most of their wages) in order to have their children's home waiting for them when Ev is able to return home. It will also mean being able to provide essential items such as medical equipment that will help Everleigh be able to live as independently as possible when this time comes. When life returns to normal, any funds raised that have not been used to support the family, will be shared between Bristol Children's Hospital and Clic Sargent.

Thank you for taking the time to read about the amazing Everleigh. If you are able to support her to continue “EV’ING IT” in any way, then please donate or simply spread awareness by sharing the link below.