Jack's Angel Friend Amelia
In February 2005 whilst an inpatient, Jack made a new friend of a beautiful little girl 2 years old called Amelia. Over the next 12 months we would meet up with Amelia and her parents frequently whilst in hospital and would keep up to date on each other's progress.
Amelia had a very aggressive type of cancer called Neuroblastoma, which is a cancer of specialised nerve cell. There are less than 100 children a year in the UK diagnosed with Neuroblastoma. Most children who get this cancer are less than 5 years old, and it is a very difficult cancer to treat, and can include a combination of surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy. (for more information on neuroblastoma follow the links to cancerbacup, neuroblasoma society and Georgie's Fund, found throughout Jack's site).
Amelia was always smiling and cheerful and always in Pink - hence her nickname of the Pink Princess. It didn't seem to matter how low or sad we might be feeling, just one look at her face and one giggle from her and we were smiling again. Without us realising, she had snuck into our hearts when we weren't looking and we became extremely fond of her and wished and hoped very much that she would win her battle.
On 1st June 2006 Amelia was given the all clear in that there was no trace of Neuroblastoma cells in her body.
On 4th September 2006 Amelia relapsed and was found to have a recurrence of the disease in her liver, leg, hip and skull. Amelia started another 2 courses of chemotherapy to try and treat the disease, but unfortunately they were unsuccessful.
The last time we saw Amelia she was in the bed next to Jack on Day Beds smiling and giggling. She left the ward in her Pink coat pushing her pink double buggy with her Baby Annabel inside and a big smile and wave goodbye.
On Tuesday 20th March 2007 I received a phone call to say Amelia had lost her battle on Saturday 19th March.
On Thursday 29th March 2007 with what felt like hundreds of other "friends", we said Goodbye to Amelia. xx
When we explained what had happened to Amelia, the children were very sad and Jack asked for a copy of the photo we have to keep in his room to remember her. She is talked of often in our house and our Race for Life this year was in her memory.
Please use the links on this site to find out more about this very nasty disease and help raise awareness of it
Thank you.
bravenet.com