Help us take this nightmare away
Mum’s cash appeal after daughter has 60 rounds of chemotherapy
A HEARTBREAKING video has captured a two-year-old’s brave battle through 60 brutal rounds of chemotherapy.
Poppy’s mother Ellena Martin created the poignant video showing the tot’s journey since she was diagnosed with type one neurofibromatosis in July last year.
The genetic condition causes tumours to grow along the nerves and made Poppy develop a tumour behind her eye – leaving her partially sighted.
The video includes dozens of family photos showing Poppy as she bravely endures the treatment.
The tot, who has had chemotherapy almost every week since she was diagnosed, is also shown after losing her hair and attending numerous hospital visits.
The brave youngster can be seen crying as she sits in hospital beds while connected to chemo tubes.
Her parents Robbie Shields, a soldier from Hawick in the Borders, and Ellena are hoping to raise £300,000 to pay for pioneering treatment which is only available in the US.
Ellena, who lives in Whitstable, Kent, said: “Poppy had a normal cold and her left eye had started to wander.
“She was only 15 months at the time and it was as if she had a bit of a lazy eye.
“I mentioned it to my mum and we thought it’s probably just because of the cold and we would give it a couple of days.
“Once the cold had gone her eye still kept wandering. We went up to the hospital in Ashbury and they said they could see a tumour behind Poppy’s eye.
“She’s had chemo for most of her life.
“I think in total she’s only had about eight weeks off and that has only been when she has picked up infections.
“Poppy started a different type of chemo last December which has been a lot better for her.”
Ellena knew if the latest treatment went wrong, she would be running out of options for her daughter’s treatment – so began researching on Google and found a top surgeon in the States who could help.
She added: “Poppy is all right in herself but she doesn’t sleep well at the moment. The doctors said it’s probably headaches because of the tumour.
“She’ll wake up through the night but I’m not allowed to give her any medication such as paracetamol because of the chemo.
“I set up the Just Giving page a couple of weeks ago to help raise the money to get her to the States.”
Poppy’s Just Giving page, Poppy’s Plea, reads: “I am searching for help to find the right doctors who can take this awful, life-threatening nightmare away from us.
“We have been told the tumour is inoperable in the UK.
“The tumour has already taken most of the sight in Poppy’s left eye and is now growing towards the right eye and is sitting on other parts of the brain.
“Sadly we no longer have time on our side before the tumour does yet more irreversible damage.
“My next step is to consult with Dr Alan R Cohen MD, neurosurgeonin-chief and chair of Boston children’s hospital’s department of neurosurgery currently working in the Johns Hopkins hospital in Baltimore, Maryland, to figure out our best way forward with Poppy under their care.
“We’re aiming to reach a target of £300,000 to cover costs of travel, accommodation, consultations and surgery to help save Poppy’s life. Any donations will be so gratefully appreciated.
“Please help my little princess live a life free from this evil disease.”