Happily Ever Annabel

14/08/2025

Hi all 👋 It's been a while. It just occurred to me that we haven't given you an Annabel update since she received her essential medication. We've been too busy living life and making precious memories.

So here she is! This is what one year of post-chemo hair regrowth looks like! Currently dyed pink for the summer holidays.

She's full of beans and doing really well. She's done fantastically at school this year (her first year!) and made up for everything she's missed. She runs us ragged with her energy, which we have to remember is a really good thing!

Her new medication is going well. Sadly many children have had to stop using it due to side effects, like hearing loss, but so far so good here.

Thanks to everyone who has asked and continues to think about us ❤️❤️

12/07/2025

Hi Everyone, some great news about the Rare Cancers Bill: It had enough support from MPs and passed its third reading in the House of Commons, so now it's off to the House of Lords! A *huge* 'thank you' to everyone who got in touch with their MP!

Getting these reforms through Parliament is a complicated process, so here's a link to a statement from one of the (many) charities backing the Bill with more detail for anyone who wants it:

https://www.neuroblastoma.org.uk/news/rare-cancers-bill-passes-third-reading-in-house-of-commons #:~:text=The%20Rare%20Cancers%20Bill%2C%20led,childhood%20cancers%20such%20as%20neuroblastoma.

The Rare Cancers Bill, led by Scott Arthur MP, has today passed its Third Reading in the House of Commons, bringing renewed hope to those affected by rare and less common cancers, including devastating childhood cancers such as neuroblastoma.

09/07/2025

Hello Everyone! We have a favour to ask - If you'd like to help get the Rare Cancers Bill through Parliament this week (a good cause, and one close to our hearts) please write to your MP and ask them to support it!

Here's the text of a form-letter that's been put forward by the charity Solving Kids Cancer UK:

RE: URGENT: The Rare Cancers Bill is at risk – we need your help
[Your Name]
[Your Address]
[Your Postcode]
[Your Email]
Dear [MP Name],
As your constituent, I’m urging you to declare your support for the Rare Cancers Bill, introduced by Dr Scott Arthur MP, by attending its third reading on Friday 11 July at 10am.
An amendment has been tabled by Sir Christopher Chope MP that may trigger a vote. If there are not enough MPs present, the Bill risks falling - a devastating outcome after so much progress.
This transformational Bill would improve access to clinical trials for people living with rare and less common cancers - which make up 47% of UK cancer diagnoses and 55% of cancer deaths, yet remain significantly under-researched.
Other countries have taken measures to incentivise pharmaceutical companies to invest in clinical trials for rare cancers and the UK has fallen behind. This means that Rare Cancer patients in the UK are missing out on potentially life saving clinical trials, with a recent survey from Cancer52 showing a staggering 82% of those with rare and less common cancers were not consulted on joining a clinical trial.
This Bill offers new hope for those diagnosed with rare cancers, with a plan to incentivise new, cutting-edge research.
The Rare Cancers Bill will:
Appoint a named responsible lead for the delivery of rare cancer research, providing greater accountability, facilitating collaboration and long-term coordination for the UK’s research landscape.
Commit the Government to review the UK’s Orphan Drug Regulations, examining what can be done to improve the regulations to support the development of treatments for rare and less common cancer treatments.
Ensuring that patients can be easily contacted about relevant research and clinical trials, thereby improving access to trials and the quality of trials in the UK

As your constituent, I strongly believe that supporting this Bill is a crucial step toward improving outcomes for those affected by rare cancers. I urge you to represent the voices of those living with these devastating conditions and declare yourself supportive of the Rare Cancers Bill.
Please CC RareCancersBill@h-advisors.global in your response, as they are tracking which MPs are supporting the Bill.
Yours sincerely,
[Your Name]

04/03/2025

Annabel's running the Junior Great North Run this year - and I'm running the big one again - to raise money for The Christie specialist cancer hospital in Manchester, who treated Annabel and so many of her little pals. I've just set up our page so thought I'd share it.

I will find a better photo for it! But that's Annabel ringing the bell at The Christie after completing her treatment there - treatment that we had to fight like hell to get, but which was kinder and less likely to lead to secondary cancers due to lower radiation.

We have no expectation of donations from our wonderful supporters here after you've done SO MUCH to directly support Annabel's treatment fund. But if you happen to be an eccentric millionaire looking to spend a few £££, feel free :-)

Help Elizabeth Ashmore raise money to support THE CHRISTIE CHARITY

20/02/2025

UPDATE: Little miss is fine. No infection. Just something viral. Taken swabs to find out if its flu or just a cold. Treatment is the same though. Lots of cuddles and as many Haribo as she wants!

-----

Off to hospital today to get little miss checked out for a chest infection.

It's tricky at the minute because she LOVES hospital. She gets loads of positive attention from the staff, sees friends, gets rewards from the treat box. So we've had a few 'this hurts, that hurts' episodes recently where we're not sure if she's really poorly or just fancies some fuss at the RVI 🙈

However, with a high temp and rattly chest, she definitely needs seeing today.

It's such a blessing that after two years of treatment - most of it utterly horrific - she still sees the RVI as a safe and happy place. How resilient kids are.

And look at that hair!

14/02/2025

Clear ultrasound today for little miss.

This is the new way they monitor her cancer status. No more dangerous radioactive scans under sedation and general anaesthetic.

Just a monthly 'jelly belly scan' to look for tumours, plus urine test to look for cancer cells in the wee, and blood test to check on general wellbeing.

She does it all like a trouper. Even though they jab her and it's a super long day.

It's always such a relief when a scan comes back clear 😬😊

11/02/2025

It would mean a lot to us if our supporters could take a minute to sign this petition.

When Annabel got diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer, we were in no position to work, mentally drained and spending every day at her hospital bedside.

But it took over 3 months to get government financial support (in the form of Disability Living Allowance for Annabel).

We've seen so many families plunged into extreme financial hardship due to a child's cancer diagnosis.

This bill looks to fix that. Please sign 🙏 and pray you never need to be a beneficiary.

🚨Over 10,740 people have signed the petition for Hugh’s Law

We’re calling for Day 1 financial support for parents of critically ill children. If you haven’t signed yet, now’s the time! 🙏

If your friends haven’t signed, tag them.
If you know a celebrity who might share it, tag them too.

Let’s push this to 100,000 signatures by March 1st and make sure every voice is heard! Together, we can create real change. 💪

🔗 link in bio - https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/700285

11/01/2025

Annabel restarted her favourite hobby today - dancing. Before she got poorly, she loved ballet class. But she's not been for two years. We're all super happy to see her back in the tutu and dancing her little heart out. She's worn out now.

Thank you Angela-Marie School of Theatre Dance. She was chuffed to get Star of the Week. Lovely way to make her feel welcome ❤️

06/01/2025

Huge thanks to our friends and customers at The Orangery cafe in Whickham. Not only are they Annabel's favourite place to eat, they're super fundraisers. That collection tin weighs a tonne!

02/01/2025

A little Annabel update. She had a audiology check up today and her hearing is back to normal. Hurray!

28/12/2024

Annabel gets routine sight and hearing tests now, as her medication can affect both. We've no idea whether it's because of her treatment or just genetics, but her most recent eye check found she needs glasses. She's over the moon about it and picked out this oh-so-Annabel pink pair. We think she looks pretty cute... what about you?

22/12/2024