Strength in Unity. Help Matilda fight Leukaemia

Aim: To help raise urgent funds for Matilda's family to be near her whilst she has several months of life saving treatment.

A little update for you all 💝 from Matilda‘a mummy & daddy. Matilda has been put into isolation as she has got a cold 😢 the room upgrade is nice but that’s the only thing she is managing well although very tired and grumpy but still finding some time to have fun with her sisters and having a little play doctors are still very pleased with her progress and assure me everything that she is doing is all very normal in fact he said she looks very well considering what her little body is going through which is good news not sure when isolation finishes but at the minute we’re enjoying the privacy and quiet time xx

With Claire and Ben's blessing, I have set this page up to help them and their beautiful daughter Matilda.

Devastatingly, Matilda was diagnosed with AML Leukaemia on 15/10/24. This was a  complete shock to her family as she had no symptoms. This awful disease was discovered through a routine blood test that Matilda has as part of her ongoing monitoring for her Downs Syndrome. 

Matilda is an absolute WARRIOR and total inspiration, with the sunniest smile no matter what life has thrown her way. 

Overnight, their pathway through life has taken a drastic turn that they all now have to navigate. Matilda has two amazing sisters. Ruby who is 12 and Maisie who is 10. These three wonderful sisters are so very close and Matilda and Ruby dote on their little sister so much! I cannot even begin to tell you what an incredible family they are. Life has thrown many curve balls but I haven't once heard them complain. They are always so positive and show the most remarkable strength i've ever seen. Even now, their strength as a family is so undeniably evident, but we need to keep it that way by keeping them all together! 

Since Matilda's heart breaking diagnosis they have all been separated. Matilda is having urgent treatment and will be having four rounds of Chemotherapy. She will have to stay in Addenbrookes Hospital (where she is currently)for 4-6 months, meaning she is 90 miles (each way)from home. Ben and Claire both work which is essential for supporting their family. However, as you can imagine this is now virtually impossible. Either Claire or Ben need to be with Matilda which already means one of them is then not able to see her, while the other has to do school runs and try to keep life as 'normal' as possible for Ruby and Maisie. Both girls are understandably finding this incredibly difficult to cope with and just want to be with their Mum and Dad and their little sister. For them to have to process all of this, as well as being separated from either mum or dad is just so unfair for them. The girls are not allowed to stay at the hospital accommodation, making it very difficult for visits, and the family being all together for any time period is impossible which I believe could be so detrimental to them all. Right now they need each other more than ever. I know instantly, so many of us are desperate to do something, anything to help make life at least a little bit more bearable for them all and ultimately to enable Matilda to have her family around her to give her the best support on her road to recovery. Sadly life doesn't stand still. Bills are still there as are transport costs. The cost of frequently staying near to the hospital where the girls can be with both of their parents and visit Matilda is not sustainable even whilst working normally. So HOW CAN WE HELP? 

I would love for us to all unite and raise as much as we can to relieve some financial pressure from Claire and Ben so they can focus on getting their beautiful daughter well and back home where she belongs as soon as possible! 

Money raised will go towards accommodation near to the hospital, travel costs and any extra essentials Matilda may need. 

I thank you in advance on behalf of Claire and Ben. Asking for this sort of help is never easy and something they would never normally do, no matter how tough things got. I know any donation will mean the absolute world to them and will also show them how many of us are here sending fighting spirit to Matilda! 

xxxx