Ada Lion Heart

Just after Adaline's first birthday, she was taken to A&E for an ear infection; 24 hours (and 4 hospitals) later, she was diagnosed with a rare and very aggressive Stage 4, High-Risk Neuroblastoma.

To deliver chemotherapy, Ada needed a permanent IV line put in. This is a routine and simple procedure, but Ada suffered a rare complication and needed emergency open-heart surgery. Ada had an extremely close brush with death, but like a wild lion, she has a hunger for life that cannot be defeated, giving her the name Ada Lion Heart. Her fighting spirit inspires us all as she started very intense chemotherapies less than two weeks after emergency surgery. This little baby smiles through things that would have adults flat on the floor.

Ada's treatment will take a minimum of 2 years and includes chemotherapy, surgery, bone marrow transplants and radiation and it is already taking a heavy toll on Mum, Dad and her 2.5-year old sister. The global COVID pandemic has made an all-consuming childhood cancer battle even harder, slashing access to physical support from family members and friends. Ada will spend more time in the hospital than at home over the next two years, and the young family have dealt with a new way of life with grace, strength and positivity, but they desperately need help with things like paying their mortgage on one income and a pay cut, buying food and adapting to special dietary requirements and care for Ada’s older sister, as well as all the other costs of life we all have to face.

The aim of this page is to make this brave family's heavy load a little lighter through ongoing financial support on their journey.