Maya Nash’s Cancer Journey

Maya’s GoFundMe states:

Friday 28.7.2023

Very unfortunately, our dear 10-year old youngest daughter Maya’s cancer is back. And when Neuroblastoma relapses, it is with a vengeance.

From April 2017-September 2018, Maya received intensive frontline treatment on the NHS (National Health Service) via SIOPEN clinical trial.

From February 2019-February 2020, Maya received treatment via clinical trial at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) in New York, with the help of Solving Kids Cancer UK charity.

It’s been 4 years 10 months since finishing the NHS frontline treatment, and she’s NEAD (No Evidence of Active Disease) and it’s been 3 years 5 months since the clinical trial in New York.

Maya’s leg pains started the third week of June 2023. We ended up at A&E WHH (William Harvey Hospital) on 8th July 2023, and since then Maya has had chest X-ray (9th July), MRI pelvis/abdomen (10th July), ultrasound abdomen (13th July), MiBG/SPECT scan (25th July) which confirmed that the cancer is once again spreading.

In the words of Maya’s paediatric oncology consultant, once Neuroblastoma relapses, it is more challenging to control the disease. Either we will try to get rid of it (again) or it will buy you time. Another rollercoaster ride with harsh gruelling treatments for the next 12-18 months! I’m being pragmatic within the knowledge that the odds for survival after relapse are low, and there aren’t many NHS-provided treatment options for Neuroblastoma.

The heartbreak our family is feeling is beyond words and we are hoping to raise money to ease the financial worries as much as we can.

No parent should ever have to experience being sick with worry about finances when their child is facing life-threatening illness whilst going to-&-from the hospitals. As the cliché goes, every little helps (few pennies, few pounds, few hundreds, ££££) in allowing myself and my husband Terry to spend as much time with our daughter Maya as possible but to also make some very special memories with her too.

We are swallowing our pride now (any parent would). We obviously know times are really tough right now for everyone but any donated amount will help us pay towards creating beautiful happy memories whilst Maya is able to do anything physically. It will also help us cover the utility bills/mortgage as we would have to work less hours (between me and Terry, we will juggle with hospital trips/stays). I work as a GP Practice Nurse (with speciality in diabetes) and cannot even imagine having to face my own patients in my clinic without bursting into tears, but I will worry about this later on. Any amount will help pay for fuel into the car for the endless hospital trips (between the 3 different hospitals: The Royal Marsden Hospital Sutton, St George’s Hospital- Tooting London and The William Harvey Hospital Ashford), never mind the food during the countless hospital stays as we’ve now lost the appetite to eat altogether.

It’s the worst fear, hence we will be eternally gratefully for donating/sharing Maya’s fundraising page.

As Maya’s Mum, I am holding the fort, putting a brave face on as usual. It feels like the world collapsed on us. My heart breaks for my other children too each time we had to tell each of Maya’s grown-up siblings (Jerome, Leon, Enzo and Lola), the grandparents/in-laws, aunties/uncles/cousins. Absolutely devastating news for the whole family.

In the words of my stepDad Michael: “shock…stunned…struggled to reply as what can I say? How can I find the words? Our darling innocent Maya.”

Our hearts shattered into thousand pieces. ~ Dellanie (Mum)

p.s. You can click on the green dot to slide to 0% tip. If you’re not able to donate, please share the link. We are very very grateful for any kind of help. Thank You Very Much.