Chloe's Medical Journey

My name is Deborah and our lives were completely flipped upside down with my daughter Chloe's Cancer diagnosis on the 22nd of November 2023. Please feel free to take the time to read a little about Chloe's journey so far.

Our happy healthy girl turned 10 on the 16th of October but soon after started developing flu like symptoms around the 24th October, sleeping most of Halloween mid term and not eating or drinking much. A rash came around the 30/31 October with Chloe still not feeling well. We brought her to the doctors on the 6 November . Our GP said it could've been chicken pox but wasn't 100% sure but to keep her off school so not to spread it.

On the 9th of November Chloe started to feel herself again and was really excited to go back to school.

During a day out on the 11th of November, Chloe started crying and saying she couldn't see out of her left eye and had a heavy feeling in her left arm, and stumbled as she walked. We immediately rang the beldoc. We took her down and the doctor said it sounded like migraines, and did we want to go home or go to A&E. Went to A&E where Chloe had her bloods done which were all ok. She also had an assessment done and a CT scan. The nurse said it was a possible stroke but something was on the brain. Chloe was admitted that evening until we got answers.

In the days that followed Chloe had an MRI done, Lumbar puncture, a biopsy on the rash with stitches, ultrasounds, X rays and 2 days of strong steroids.

On Friday 17th November they still hadn't give us a proper diagnosis, so the nurse let her come home for the weekend, however the rash and eye sight was still the same.

On the 19th November Chloe found a lump on her groin while in the shower. The next day she went back into hospital where she had a full eye test done, which needs rechecked in January to see if she has a permanent loss in vision.

On the 21st of November Chloe had another ultrasound on all of her tummy organs and the new lump on her groin.

The following day, 22nd of November, we were given the worst news we could of imagined. Chloe was diagnosed with ALK positive Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma with Nervous System Disease. She was then moved to the hematology ward.

Chloe had to have another CT scan, and the next day was her first trip to surgery to get a central line inserted into her chest. She had to have bone marrow removed, the lump in groin removed, another lumbar puncture done and then the first dose of chemo through the lumbar for her brain. Through all of this she was so brave, full of smiles and jokes.

On the 27th and 29th of November Chloe had to go back to theatre to get more chemo through the lumbar. She's not a fan of having to fast every other day.

On the 1st of December she started her second block of chemo. She has had so many bags through the central line, she finds it tough moving around with it. The following 3 days she had more chemo through the central line along with some other fluids, as well as another lumbar.

Chloe is starting to complain about pain in her mouth and jaw while eating. She has said that she is too tired to keep going to theatre, and can she just stop going. She's lost her appetite and is tired while still on fluids.

She's expecting to have more chemo with a few days break before starting the next block. We're hoping she is allowed home for a night this week to be with her brother and sister who have hardly seen her from she was admitted to hospital. We all miss her.

During this whole time she has stayed our bubbly, strong, brave, funny, crazy little girl who has taken each day as it comes and faces them with courage.

The money donated will enable us to get Chloe a much needed wheelchair, help with food, parking and fuel, energy costs while she's at home as we have to have the heating on all of the time. It will help with loss of earnings and ease the burden of bills as I'm not currently entitled to anything until Chloe's been diagnosed at least 3 months and with Christmas round the corner everything has just stacked up. Thank you very much for taking the time, it's very appreciated.