Pictures taken just 2 weeks apart show toll chemo is taking on girl, four, battling leukaemia as parents plea for donor
PICTURES taken just two weeks apart show the toll chemotherapy is taking on a four-year-old girl battling leukaemia – as her parents plead for a bone-marrow donor to come forward.
Poppy Dixon, 4, is enduring her second battle against the blood cancer in under a year.
She was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in June 2020, before completing her treatment last September.
But last month doctors said the cancer has returned in a rarer and harder-to-treat form.
Poppy’s parents received the devastating news when they took her to Royal Cornwall Hospital after noticing unusual bruising on her legs.
She has now endured ten days of brutal chemotherapy treatment, which has left her needing several blood transfusions and IV antibiotics.
Her dad Pete shared side-by-side photos of Poppy before and after the treatment took its toll on her.
In the “before” snap, a healthy and happy Poppy can be seen cradling a teddy bear, with long tresses falling over her shoulders.
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But the “after” pic taken less than two weeks later shows her hair thinned out and blanched of colour, the treatment having robbed the four-year-old of her smile.
Pete said: “Firstly, we just like to express how grateful we are to everyone who has reached out and offered support.
“The level of support and kindness towards us has been utterly overwhelming and on behalf our family I cannot say thank you enough.
“Unfortunately, in regards of finding a bone marrow donor we discovered that Poppy’s brother Oliver is not a match.
“However, they are still searching globally for a donor that is currently on the register.
“As previously mentioned, Poppy recieved 10 days of intense chemotherapy, which has resulted in Poppy needing multiple blood transfusions and IV antibiotics to treat infections.
“To give you an idea of how intense the chemo has been, these photos were taken exactly 2 weeks apart.
“If you haven’t signed up on the bone marrow register, do it now. You can literally save a child’s life.”
A GoFundMe page set up on the family’s half has already raised £10,890.
It reads: “There’s no other way of saying this but this will be Poppy’s last chance of survival.
“Words can’t describe what we are feeling right now. Our little world has been shattered once again and we apologise if we do not reply to messages as of yet.
“It’s so important children like Poppy have the opportunity of a bone marrow transplant as it is truly their last chance.
“Sign up now for Poppy and all the other children suffering this awful disease – all it is a swab from the inside of your mouth and post it back.
“Lastly, hold your children close tonight and never take their health for granted.”
A May 1 update reads: “Poppy received intense chemo, 3 times a day for 10 days, and during this time she was very well in herself and full of her larger than life personality.
“She has now started to become quite well unwell as the side effects of the chemo have hit.
“She now has her food and medication through a feeding tube, has started losing her hair, vomiting and spiking temperatures.
“Her Chemo will restart in 4 weeks and then hopefully they will have found a bone marrow donor.”
It comes as a terminally ill mother is spending her final months in agony because she can’t afford to heat her house.
What are the symptoms of leukaemia?
Leukaemia symptoms usually develop over a few weeks and become worse over time.
Symptoms can include:
- looking pale or “washed out”
- feeling tired or weak
- breathlessness
- frequent infections
- unusual and frequent bruising or bleeding, such as bleeding gums or nosebleeds
- losing weight without trying to
Source: The NHS