A mum has spoken of her daughter's 'bravery' after she was given a horror diagnosis just days after she spotted something unusual on her back.
Six-year-old Heidi Howson’s life was turned upside down eight months ago when the family was told she had acute lymphoblastic leukaemia only days before her birthday.
She had been enjoying a day out with friends at Gulliver’s Valley theme park in Rotherham on a sunny Monday during the summer school holidays when her mother Lucy noticed purple spots on her back, and the same evening the family took her to A&E.
Staff at Sheffield Children’s Hospital told her to come back for further tests - but when they returned to their home in the suburb of Handsworth, more rashes started to appear on Heidi’s neck.
As a midwife, Lucy knew there was something wrong, and it was not long before she was given advice from a friend who is a nurse to seek urgent care for her daughter, reports Yorkshire Live.
Heidi was admitted to Sheffield Children’s Hospital on the Saturday after an Emergency Department consultant immediately and expertly recognised her symptoms.
Her parents knew she wouldn’t be going home that evening after the canula was put in her arm, and by the following Monday, Heidi’s bone marrow test confirmed a diagnosis of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.
Just 24 hours after her diagnosis and eight days after spotting the first signs, Heidi began intensive chemotherapy to save her life.
The family then went through - what they described as - the worst eight weeks of their lives as their daughter became very ill, spending her sixth birthday on the sofa surrounded by friends and family.
Lucy took six months off work to care for Heidi, while Ryan, Heidi's dad, was able to only take the first few weeks of Heidi’s treatment off before returning to full-time work as a farmer.
Over the last eight months, the young girl has taken each incredibly tough day in her stride as she battles through hair loss, lethargy, mobility issues, speech problems, and weight loss.
She undergoes chemotherapy in blocks and makes regular trips to the theatre at Sheffield Children’s Hospital, where she is supported by Ward 6, the ear, nose and throat (ENT) team, speech and language therapists, dieticians, physiotherapists and dentists.
Speaking about how her daughter has adapted to life on the ward, Heidi said: “Heidi loves being on Ward 6; the staff and playroom make the experience so much better especially in difficult times.
"Without the support of wonderful families in similar situations, we wouldn’t know how to cope. We meet people from all walks of life in similar positions to us, all with a collective understanding of trying to navigate this horrible journey.
“We know Heidi will get better and even though she goes through so much, her prognosis is positive. We know the risk of relapse is always going to be there, but we’re thankful for her journey so far. You can’t put a value on a child’s life, and we’ll never stop fundraising as a thank you to everyone who’s supported us so far!”
Her latest tests show that the treatment is thankfully working, and will continue for two years with constant monitoring of her health during and after due to her being classed as immediate-high risk due to her genetics.
As a thank you to Sheffield Children’s, Lucy and some of her fellow midwives at Rotherham Hospital will take on The Children’s Hospital Charity’s Yorkshire Three Peaks challenge on July 22, 2023.
Team Heidi will aim to complete the 24-mile round trip across rough terrain in the Yorkshire Dales - and they have already begun training, with Ryan and Heidi’s big brother Liam joining in to support the team.
Lucy said: “We want to give back as much as we can to Sheffield Children’s. I’m always up for a challenge so I’m ready to take on the Yorkshire Three Peaks for such a good cause.
“Heidi’s a strong little girl and won’t give up even in the hardest times when she’s feeling poorly from treatment – she knows she has to be poorly to get better. She talks about her leukaemia in such a practical way and is always wanting to learn about her own care and treatment.”
