Help support Ottie's family
Donation protected
In April 2020 our friends’ lives changed forever. Their beautiful little girl, Ottie, was diagnosed with Stage 4 High Risk Neuroblastoma, an aggressive and rare form of childhood cancer.
Since then, Nick and Lorna (Ottie’s parents) have been taking it in turns to be by Ottie’s side at Bristol Children’s Hospital. They have bravely navigated their way through over a year of intense treatment which, due to Covid, has split their family apart because only one person has been allowed to be with Ottie at the hospital at any one time.
Tragically, 3 weeks before the end of Ottie’s treatment, another tumour was found. As rare as this form of cancer is, a relapse during frontline treatment is even rarer. Ottie (now 5 years old) has spent the last year having the most comprehensive/aggressive treatment available, which we now know is not enough. Sadly, due to the nature of treating cancer, Nick and Lorna have been told that unless there is a medical advance in treatment options, nothing will cure Ottie. They now find themselves in the impossible position of balancing treatment levels whilst ensuring Ottie maintains a quality of life. Unfortunately this means more surgery and more chemotherapy.
Nick and Lorna have been unable to work since Ottie’s diagnosis as they have needed to be by her side throughout. To protect Ottie, they have had to strictly isolate as a family for the last year. However, due to the latest developments in Ottie’s condition, they have been told to abandon shielding and try to live the time they have left with Ottie to the fullest, remaining by her side to care for her and to spend precious moments as a family together whilst they can.
This is where anyone reading this can come in and we hope can help make a difference to a family in need.
We want Ottie’s family to be able to fill her remaining days surrounded by friends and family, full of love and laughter, without any worry of how they’re going to pay their next bill, cover the costs of fuel for their regular hospital visits, buy food, or maybe even take Ottie out for the day if they can. We want Nick and Lorna to feel financially secure as they navigate their way through the next weeks and months. As close friends and family, we continue to support Nick and Lorna as best we can and we hope this funding page will enable us all to help them a little more, even if it can’t take away the pain they are going through.
We know some people reading this might be complete strangers to Ottie and her family. If you have found your way to this page, thank you for reading it, and if you can share it and/or make a donation, we can’t thank you enough – unexpected kindness can be one of the most powerful forces there is.
No child should have to endure what Ottie has experienced in the last year and no parents should ever have to experience the pain, uncertainty and impossible decisions they face. If you can spare any money to help this amazing and courageous family, it will be so gratefully received.
Money raised will go directly to Ottie’s family to help with paying their day to day bills and to use on special days out when they are able to.
Thank you so much for donating and sharing.
Since then, Nick and Lorna (Ottie’s parents) have been taking it in turns to be by Ottie’s side at Bristol Children’s Hospital. They have bravely navigated their way through over a year of intense treatment which, due to Covid, has split their family apart because only one person has been allowed to be with Ottie at the hospital at any one time.
Tragically, 3 weeks before the end of Ottie’s treatment, another tumour was found. As rare as this form of cancer is, a relapse during frontline treatment is even rarer. Ottie (now 5 years old) has spent the last year having the most comprehensive/aggressive treatment available, which we now know is not enough. Sadly, due to the nature of treating cancer, Nick and Lorna have been told that unless there is a medical advance in treatment options, nothing will cure Ottie. They now find themselves in the impossible position of balancing treatment levels whilst ensuring Ottie maintains a quality of life. Unfortunately this means more surgery and more chemotherapy.
Nick and Lorna have been unable to work since Ottie’s diagnosis as they have needed to be by her side throughout. To protect Ottie, they have had to strictly isolate as a family for the last year. However, due to the latest developments in Ottie’s condition, they have been told to abandon shielding and try to live the time they have left with Ottie to the fullest, remaining by her side to care for her and to spend precious moments as a family together whilst they can.
This is where anyone reading this can come in and we hope can help make a difference to a family in need.
We want Ottie’s family to be able to fill her remaining days surrounded by friends and family, full of love and laughter, without any worry of how they’re going to pay their next bill, cover the costs of fuel for their regular hospital visits, buy food, or maybe even take Ottie out for the day if they can. We want Nick and Lorna to feel financially secure as they navigate their way through the next weeks and months. As close friends and family, we continue to support Nick and Lorna as best we can and we hope this funding page will enable us all to help them a little more, even if it can’t take away the pain they are going through.
We know some people reading this might be complete strangers to Ottie and her family. If you have found your way to this page, thank you for reading it, and if you can share it and/or make a donation, we can’t thank you enough – unexpected kindness can be one of the most powerful forces there is.
No child should have to endure what Ottie has experienced in the last year and no parents should ever have to experience the pain, uncertainty and impossible decisions they face. If you can spare any money to help this amazing and courageous family, it will be so gratefully received.
Money raised will go directly to Ottie’s family to help with paying their day to day bills and to use on special days out when they are able to.
Thank you so much for donating and sharing.
Organizer and beneficiary
Mary Thorne
Organizer
England
Nick Gray
Beneficiary