Lola is 11 and was diagnosed last November with spindle cell sarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer, after months of misdiagnoses including an ear infection, growing pains and muscle contortion.
She bravely underwent almost a year of gruelling chemotherapy and surgery at Stanmore and UCLH hospitals.
Last Christmas she was the only child left on the ward as the other children were all able to go home.
Earlier this year Lola received a new left femur from an anonymous ‘angel bone’ donor after the 10cm tumour eroded hers to the point of crumbling.
Although she will need more surgery and has regular x-rays to monitor her health, Lola is now deemed cancer-free.
Lola’s mum, Kaisha Tucker, explains
“It’s been such a tough time for the family but Lola and Louie have both been so brave and resilient. And it’s hard to put into words how much Gold Geese has helped not just Lola but all of us.
“We felt so alone last Christmas and Lola was the only child on the ward as we couldn’t pause treatment even for a few days. My husband brought in a makeshift Christmas lunch, I slept on a bed next to her and the kids opened their presents at UCLH.
“But when we got home Lola had a card and really generous John Lewis voucher from Gold Geese waiting for her. It was lovely knowing we had been thought about and we felt less isolated.
“You don’t ever think it’s going to be you, and it’s not always easy to ask for help.
“But you need someone to try and make it better and that’s what Katie did. She made a rubbish situation better and took away the stress of the situation we were living in.
“Midway through treatment we were really struggling and I remember thinking everyone else is living their lives and we’re stuck in this awful situation. Katie arranged a trip for us all to go and stay at Port Lympne zoo in Kent, and it was incredible to be back in the living world for a bit, just enjoying the animals and having fun like other families.
“Gold Geese also helped us connect with other local parents and siblings going through the same thing so we felt less alone, arranged counselling for us all, and pre-empted practical things like a wheelchair for Lola, which we hadn’t even considered yet.
“That’s why we’re supporting Gold Geese’s Christmas appeal, because they rely on donations from the community to do their amazing work. They help dozens of families in our local area and every pound helps.”
To donate to Gold Geese text GOLDGIFT and your chosen amount to 70470.
