Amelia was a happy and healthy girl navigating her first year of high school and spending time with her friends. One day, I noticed she had a single red bruise on her leg, which I found strange since she hadn’t hit her leg.
By the following Monday, both of her legs, below her shins, were covered in small red bruises, some of which were raised. Concerned, I took her to a pharmacy where the pharmacist suggested it might be an allergic reaction and recommended a cream to try.
However, the next day, more blotches appeared, and it just didn’t feel right. I decided to call 111 (the out-of-hours service), and within 20 minutes, we were on a video call with a paediatrician. He suspected that Amelia might have Henoch-Schönlein purpura (HSP) but advised that I take her to A&E for confirmation and a blood test.
Diagnosis
At A&E, the consultant agreed to take blood and urine samples. He arranged a treatment plan for Amelia and sent us home, telling us to await a call about her blood tests. He assured us not to worry, as he was not concerned but wanted to ensure her kidneys were functioning properly.
Two hours later, I received a phone call from a haematologist at a different hospital. She delivered the devastating news that there was something seriously wrong with Amelia's blood and instructed us to go to Birmingham Children's Hospital immediately. When I asked about the issue, she informed me that cancerous cells had been found in Amelia's blood.
I drove to Birmingham that night, where a consultant saw us right away and took about 14 vials of blood from Amelia. I asked to speak with the consultant privately, away from my daughter. During that meeting, the consultant sat me down and told me they suspected Amelia had leukaemia.
It’s a memory that will stay with me for ever. Amelia spent 52 days in hospital after her blood tests indicated she had AML. However, her bone marrow results were not consistent with the diagnosis, so various tests were conducted. Finally, on March 28, it was confirmed that Amelia had AML and would begin a six-month intensive chemotherapy course.
She was transferred to the teenage cancer ward at Leicester Royal Infirmary, and a few days later, she started her first round of treatment.
Challenges and side effects of treatment
It’s difficult to describe the impact this situation has had on our family. Amelia has a younger brother who has struggled to cope with his sister's cancer diagnosis. Nonetheless, Ethan’s dad and I have tried to maintain a sense of normality for him while balancing our time with Amelia at the hospital.
Amelia is nearing the end of her second round of treatment, and hopefully, she will be able to come home for a short time before starting her next round. Her upcoming bone marrow biopsy will determine whether the chemotherapy has been effective so far and whether she can continue this treatment plan, or if she will require a bone marrow transplant.
I want to express my heartfelt appreciation for the outstanding staff we have encountered at both Birmingham Children’s Hospital and Ward 27 of Leicester Royal Infirmary. We have experienced so much compassion, empathy, and support, and I will always be grateful to them.
Dr Bhuller, her consultant, has been incredible in guiding us through this difficult and challenging time. He takes the time to explain everything in detail. Additionally, he offers Amelia options regarding certain aspects of her treatment, which allows her to feel a sense of control. This approach significantly helps build trust with those who are caring for her. The teams working tirelessly have made this entire process much easier to navigate.
I’m pleased to share Amelia is officially in remission and her treatment to date has been a success.
September 2025