I took Lexi to the GP, thinking she just had cold or flu-like symptoms, only to find out she actually had tonsillitis. The doctor prescribed amoxicillin to clear up any lingering symptoms. After Lexi completed the course of medication, she seemed to feel better overall, but a viral rash still covered her arms, legs, and face.
I still had concerns, so I sent photos to the GP, who prescribed a cream to relieve any irritation or itchiness (though she wasn't experiencing either).
Two weeks later, Lexi still wasn't herself. Her temperature had spiked to 40.4°C, and she had been sick, which, in my opinion, meant a trip to A&E. I called 111, and due to Lexi's age, they sent an ambulance for us. The paramedics checked Lexi, and since her temperature had decreased significantly, they put the fever and sickness down to having a viral infection. They offered for me to accompany her to the hospital, but they were also fine with me just contacting my GP if I had any further concerns. Since Lexi appeared to be stable, they went on their way.
A few weeks had passed, and while the rash was barely noticeable, I noticed bruises on Lexi's legs, back and hand. At first, I wondered when she’d hurt herself, as I hadn't witnessed any incident and hadn't received any calls from her nursery about an injury. So, I brushed it off initially. But, as the days went by, more bruises began to appear, so I decided to take Lexi back to the GP.
My first thought was that they might suspect I was abusing my child, but I didn't let that worry me; I knew I wasn't. The number of bruises was unusual, and they all looked very similar. Something didn't feel right.
The doctor examined Lexi and said the bruises looked normal and there was nothing to worry about. He assured me I’d done the right thing by bringing her in. I left feeling very silly, but I still wasn't happy with what was happening. So, I googled bruising on children, and leukaemia came up. I thought there was no way it could be that — just like how googling a headache leads you to believe you have a brain tumour. The day after we visited the doctor, my actual GP called and asked if I could bring Lexi in so she could check on her and ensure the antibiotics had worked. So, off we went again. The doctor examined her and took her temperature, which was still high. She could see that Lexi wasn't feeling well, especially since the rash was still there.
She told me not to panic and suggested that it could potentially be meningitis. That was a shock, and I felt uncertain since I didn't know much about it. They rushed us to the Royal Surrey under blue lights, where a paediatrician saw us. I shared the entire story —about the tonsillitis, the antibiotics, the bruises, and everything else. They ran some blood tests, and around 3:00 am, my life was turned upside down. Hearing the words, "I'm really sorry, but Lexi has leukaemia. It's a type of blood cancer," felt like having my heart ripped from my chest.
No parent wants to hear those words.
That night, my world as I knew it ended, and a new normal began to take shape. Since then, life has been hectic, draining, and filled with a whirlwind of emotions. But we’re determined to fight, overcome this, and go back to how it was before for my little family. Lexi has faced numerous challenges, including port insertions, chemotherapy through her port, lumbar punctures, weekly blood tests, oral chemotherapy, countless antibiotics, hospital stays, and side effects from most medications. However, we celebrate her strength — Lexi’s now in remission! She rang the bell and completed her treatment on July 27, 2024.
Life will never be the same again; this is our ‘new normal’. Yet, with love and strength, Lexi overcame each day with a smile.