Healing Hannah and saving her family

On Friday 19 August 2016 our bright, bubbly, friendly 3 year old girl was diagnosed with high risk, type B, Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.

We had arranged a GP appointment a few days prior as she had become very pale, tired and had many small bruises on her legs but on Friday morning she had alarmingly faded away over night. There was no energy or personality, just a quiet, sad little shell.

After a rushed trip to A&E we were transferred to pediatrics where she received blood and platelet transfusions. The next day when she was able to fly, we were transferred to Christchurch Hematology and Oncology Centre where she had a further blood transfusion and testing under general anesthetic. We are now in our first week of chemotherapy.

All going well she is expected to have 2 and 3/4 years of chemotherapy and monitoring. We live in Blenheim and so this means Hannah and her mummy having to live in Christchurch for two to three months initially and then spending time travelling to Nelson and Christchurch.

We have set up this page to help our family with the costs of keeping our family together in some way during this time. It is over 600km for a round trip for her brother and sister to see her or for her daddy to come stay and support mummy.

We have 4 and a half year old twins who miss there sister and mummy. Their daddy is juggling work and caring for them whilst trying to support his wife and Hannah too travelling down each weekend to see them during the incredibly hard time.

This has turned our lives upside down. The core of our family, mummy, has been taken away from our twins whilst our youngest is enduring lifesaving and distressing treatment. Everything has stopped and changed with Hannah's mummy needing to give up her university studies and part time work to give Hannah the care she needs in the place she needs it.

The funds donated will be used to pay for travel expenses for James and sometimes the children too to support and spend time with Hannah and mummy. This might include petrol, flights and accommodation. They may also be used to pay for some respite or assistance with caring for the twins and housecleaning at home to ease the stress on daddy and maintain a warm, loving home for the twins.

Thank you for your support and messages of hope and faith.