A Weston family has raised thousands of pounds for two hospitals to say thank-you for saving their five-year-old daughter’s life.
Jessica Blow has recently been given the all clear from bone marrow cancer.
Doctors had initially dismissed the then three-year-old’s swollen stomach and pain as constipation when she first became ill in May 2016.
It took Jessica being admitted to hospital six weeks later for her to be properly diagnosed, but since that moment her family can’t fault the care she received between Peterborough and Addenbrooke’s Hospitals.
Now the Year One pupil at John Harrox Primary School in Moulton is back to her normal, energetic self.
To celebrate the end of her treatment, parents Paul and Sadie Blow threw a party at Kirton Leisure Centre.
Last month’s event has so far raised over £2,500 with more donations to come. The money is to be split between the two hospitals that helped Jessica the most.
Sadie said: “We’d taken Jessica to the doctors as her stomach was swollen and she was in so much pain, but the doctors just said it was constipation.
“One Friday though she came home from nursery and just zonked out on the settee and her heart was pounding so we rushed her to hospital.”
Paul continued: “At the hospital straight away they said Jessica had an enlarged liver and she went into 10 days of intensive treatment at Addenbrooke’s.
“When you hear the C- word it feels like your whole world has fallen apart.
“But it was a huge relief to be told straight away that it was curable.”
Paul and Sadie were grateful to both CLIC Sargent and Macmillan Cancer Support for help with the costs of taking Jessica to numerous appointments and chemotherapy sessions over the next 28 months.
The couple considered cancelling their 2016 wedding, but thanks to the care she received, Jessica was able to join sister Kayleigh as a bridesmaid at the ceremony.
“She’s dealt with it really well; took it on her chin and carried on doing what she’s wanted to do even when poorly. It was awful for her when her hair fell out but she’s kept going throughout.
“We’ve seen that many changes in her body throughout the treatment,” said Paul.
“She’s gained and lost weight, dramatically been on steroids and off them again.
“There have been times where she didn’t want to play to do anything but lie on the settee.
“One Christmas she wasn’t bothered by presents, didn’t want to unwrap them.”
“She’s now an energetic five-year-old who is charging around. She’s completely different from the last two years and it’s all for the good.”
Jessica told The Voice she felt much better now and that school is “good”.
“I like doing PE” she said, particularly gymnastics.
She says she’s also going to grow her re-grown hair even longer.
Jessica also described the games room in Addenbrooke’s Hospital as her favourite room.
As there are already so many toys at the hospitals, Sadie and Paul are looking for the money they’ve raised to be spent on resources for the The Amazon and Rainforest wards at Peterborough and the PDU and C2 wards at Addenbrooke’s.
“We just thought we would have an end of treatment party and try to give the hospitals something back,” said Paul.
“They’ve been really good with Jessica throughout, absolutely fantastic.
“We thought even if we raise £300 with the treatment party it would be OK, but we’ve had brilliant support with donations still coming in.
“We’d like to thank all the businesses that pledged support and those that came on the night.”
