Little Sophia Windsor rang a bell in September 2024. But it wasn’t any ordinary bell.
This was the bell on the children’s ward at the Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital, and the chimes marked the end of more than two years of cancer treatment for the feisty tot who has beaten the odds and fought her way back to health.
Diagnosed with leukaemia at just 15 months old, Sophia, is now three. It is poignant that she completed her treatment this September, because it marks both Blood Cancer Awareness and Childhood Cancer Awareness month.
For her parents, Serann and Jason, this is also the end of a long journey, which has been helped throughout by Exeter Leukaemia Fund, or ELF, a charity which supports patients with blood cancers, and their families. In fact, Sophia is the youngest person ELF has ever helped.
“It’s hard to explain what they mean to me,” said Serann Quinlan, from Newton St Cyres, near Crediton in Devon. “They and all the medical team have become like family. They are so good at what they do, and so good with Sophia.”
It was in May 2022 that Sophia first became ill, but it wasn’t until August, and after numerous tests, that Sophia had a formal diagnosis; she had leukaemia.
Serann said: “I was at the hospital by myself with Sophia, and I had to phone Jason and tell him that his daughter had cancer. It was awful.”
Sophia was initially treated at Bristol Children’s Hospital before being transferred back to Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital. But she became more poorly, contracting sickness and diarrhoea, pneumonia and eventually sepsis; dangerously low potassium levels almost led to heart failure. She was quickly sent back Bristol, where she went into intensive care.
“Looking back the diagnosis was a breeze compared to what happened later,” said Serann. “I had to leave her while she was in ITU. It was heart-breaking because we’d never spent a night apart.”
Eventually, Sophia’s condition improved enough for her to be able to start chemotherapy. Three months after being admitted to Bristol, she returned home to Devon, continuing her treatment at RD&E Hospital on Bramble ward.
Sophia’s cancer has taken its toll on the family. Serann and Jason missed their six-year-old son, Alfie’s first day at school. Serann, who also has older children, also missed her son’s GCSE results day.
But one silver lining to their experience has been the support they’ve received from ELF.
“I don’t drive, so used their transport services,” said Serann. “They’ve helped us out financially and we have had two grants from ELF, who also bought the children Christmas presents.
“I have used ELF’s counselling service which was so helpful. I talked about how Sophia’s diagnosis was affecting me personally. I had questions going through my mind and they help me try and process it all. We are so grateful for that support.”
The day Sophia rang the bell was a big day for the whole family. But having looked forward to it for so long, Serann felt suddenly anxious. How would she cope? Would she worry every time Sophia got the slightest sniffle?
“You want nothing more than to have your own daughter back and to be able to make decisions for yourself, but there’s that feeling of a safety net being taken away.”
But the medical team will continue to monitor Sophia until she is 16. And, of course, the family is still being supported by ELF.
“We’ll be using ELF for a long time. As long as they will have us, we will be part of the ELF family, until she’s grown. They do so much - it’s an amazing and beautiful thing, because they help keep you together while you’re going through such a difficult experience.”
Molly Southwood, CEO of ELF, said: “Sophia’s situation really moved us all, and we are so happy to see the happy, healthy little girl she is today.
“Sadly, there are so many families in similar situations. ELF aims to be there for every patient in Devon going through blood cancer and helped over 300 families last year alone. We are so grateful to everyone in the local community who supports us and enables us to provide our vital services.”
