Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
Lockdown surprise on cards for Abbie
Hundreds are rallying to surprise a poorly little girl by inundating her with cards as she turns 10 during the lockdown. Abbie Paice, from Chartham, was diagnosed with leukaemia four days before Christmas in 2013, when she was two. But after enduring gruelling treatment and bravely battling the illness, she went into remission and has since spent five years in the clear.
Her mum Lisah Paice said: “Everything had gone swimmingly - Abbie was actually in really good health after her initial diagnosis and treatment. “But about five weeks ago Abbie started to become unwell, slowly. It started with a nosebleed, then she started to get fatigue and headaches and nausea, and other symptoms that were of concern.”
On Tuesday, Abbie, her mum, and dad Mike visited The Royal Marsden cancer hospital in London - and she was asked to return the following day. “They’re looking to see if there’s any evidence of cancer in her spinal fluid, or anything
else,” explained Lisah on Tuesday evening.
“The plan is for her to go into theatre to have a lumbar puncture, a bone marrow aspiration, a brain pressure test, and she’s had some bloods done.” On Facebook, Lisah has kept worried loved ones updated on Abbie’s condition.
In one post, she mentioned Abbie’s excitement at the prospect of receiving birthday cards in the mail when she turns 10 on November 27. Determined to make it a birthday to remember, friends and family soon shared Lisah’s post across social media, calling for as many people as possible to surprise Abbie by sending cards of their own.
In just a couple of days, about 200 people including strangers have volunteered to send birthday cards to Abbie.
“She’s an only child,” explained Lisah. “So she’s going to have her birthday in lockdown with just me and her dad, and she’s turning 10, and she’s sick. We just thought it might cheer her up. I had no idea it would blow up like this. “Abbie’s absolutely obsessed with getting post with her name on it.
“She’s a really keen reader and loves writing stories, so to receive cards and letters would make her day - she’d sit and read them over and over again.” Abbie’s parents plan to stow away all the cards, which will then be collected and hand-delivered to the little girl by a postal worker on her birthday. Anyone interested in sending a card to Abbie is asked to contact Lisah-jayne Paice on Facebook. Abbie’s parents and friends are also raising money for the William Harvey Hospital. Donate at www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/hayley-lawler.