Saying thank you for my daughter’s care after brain tumour diagnosis
After a routine MRI found that Jen’s daughter Abbie had a lump on her brain, she was diagnosed with a rare type of childhood brain tumour. Five years on, Jen wanted to say thank you to the team who continue to care for her by raising money to help other children like Abbie.
She shared Abbie’s story and the inspiration behind her fundraising:
“Abbie was diagnosed with epilepsy in the spring of 2020, she had a routine MRI scan in September of that year and it was during that scan the radiologist saw a lump in Abbie’s brain and she was immediately admitted to hospital. We were told that Abbie had a brain tumour and within days she underwent seven hours of brain surgery and was later diagnosed with a rare childhood brain tumour called pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma (PXA). As a result of her brain tumour Abbie also lives with an Acquired Brain Injury (ABI).
Abbie’s brain tumour is inoperable, incurable and doesn’t respond to treatment and we spend a lot of time in the safe hands of her brilliant team at the QMC, but it was in January this year that Abbie attended a Beads of Life workshop run by her team of paediatric psychologists. She met up with a wonderful group of young people also living with an ABI and they spent the whole day in a safe space with no parents fussing round them, sharing their journeys and making bracelets with each bead representing something on that journey.
This day was transformational for Abbie, and me. I went along at the end with the other parents for the certificate presentation and the smile on her face is something I will never ever forget.
This dedicated team of professionals are so passionate about supporting young people with an ABI and it meant so much to us we wanted to try and help fund another one, so we held a fundraising event at our house and over two days had incredible support from our friends and family, near and far. We sold over 480 raffle tickets, sold delicious homemade cakes and left fundraising boxes out which people very kindly and very generously filled, and we were absolutely speechless when the final total hit £1,100.
Abbie has faced every single challenge over the last few years with strength, courage, bravery and determination. Her passion to help other young people with challenges shines through and I could not be prouder of her. To support Abbie on this journey is an honour, but none of it would be possible without our wonderful and incredible NHS, and it’s for that reason we will never stop giving back everything we possibly can.
Thank you so much to everyone who supported our fundraiser and thank you to the wonderful companies who donated raffle prizes, in particular Tesco at Toton.
We are so excited for the next group of young people who will get to experience this incredible day.”
We’re so grateful to Jen and Abbie for helping make a difference to patients with ABI and support sessions that make a big difference to both them and their families.
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