I wish I was more articulate to express what a wonderful thing this site is and how incredible the people who run it must be, but really there aren't words enough to do it or them justice, so all I really can say is that Post Pals, and the wonderful people behind it, truly are nothing short of inspirational.

Fri 20th August 2010 - 02:08:27 PM

Yay Jon Paul :-) glad u can get back to the comfort of home. Im sure your parents and sister r just glad u r ok :-)
Love Bethan.x

Tue 17th August 2010 - 01:14:37 PM

Hi to you all just to say that I am being dischared from hospital on Friday yeahhhhhhh. Looking forward to going home it has been a real hard time and I am sorry for scareing my sister and parents and want to say thankyou to all my postpal friends and to say thankyou for all my cards and gifts. Thankyou.

Mon 16th August 2010 - 06:13:03 PM

Madison Allan was preparing to start school when the cancer returned

The clock is ticking down on a life-or-death fund-raising appeal for a child from Lower Darwen.

Five year old Madison Allan has an aggressive form of cancer called neuroblastoma.

Her family are trying to raise £250,000 to get treatment in Germany and then America after all attempts to save her in the UK have failed.

"Getting the treatment abroad is her only chance," says her grandmother Alison Foster.

'Prepare for the worst'

"We've been told there's nothing else they can do for her here after the latest course of chemotherapy... and we should prepare for the worst."

Despite various courses of chemotherapy and radiotherapy to shrink her tumour, it is the size of her stomach and pressing on vital organs.

"It's heartbreaking to see her in so much pain and unable to eat; it's horrendous," says her grandmother.



Madison Allan with her younger sister Scarlett
"It is a 'spaghetti-type' tumour which has wrapped itself around main blood vessels making it much more complex to treat," explains Alison.

However, a consultant in Germany has already agreed to treat her with an innovative course of chemo which they are hoping will reducing the mass significantly and then she can get treatment in America which claim to completely destroy tumours.

"Of the ten children from the UK that have recently undergone the trials in Germany, it appears to be working so we are hopeful," she says. "It is very expensive; the course in Germany alone costs £20,000 but we want to give her every chance."

Madison was first diagnosed with cancer when she was ten months old.

'Four fantastic years'

"She had chemotherapy and various treatment and seemed to respond well. The tumour shrunk to a quarter of the size and after that she recovered.

"We had four fantastic years and she was looking forward to starting school," recalls Alison.

"However, in May of last year she complained about tummy ache. We all knew straight away it had come back."

In June, she underwent more chemotherapy, followed by radiotherapy. Madison was then operated on to remove the mass.


NEUROBLASTOMA FACTS
Neuroblastoma is a rare cancer that affects children, mostly under the age of 5 years. Only around 100 children in the UK are diagnosed with neuroblastoma each year
It often starts in the abdomen and can spread to other parts of the body such as the bones, liver and skin through the blood and lymphatic system
The most common symptom is a lump in the tummy which may cause the child's stomach to swell, causing discomfort or pain. In some cases it can be a lump in the neck, perhaps causing breathlessness or difficulty in swallowing
However, three hours into 12 hour operation they had to stop because the tumour was wrapped around a vital blood supply. "Had they continued she would have bled to death."

"We've now been told to enjoy the time we have left but where there is life there is hope."

Mon 16th August 2010 - 09:31:04 AM

Have just found this brilliant site. Will be getting together some presents and cards to send.I love knitting too, so will also knit some little cuddly toys. Much love to everyone. XXX

Sat 14th August 2010 - 02:23:16 PM

Have just found this site and am going to put a link on my facebook site. As I work in a local school i will be putting a link in our newsletter so hopefully we can get some children writing in. What a fantastic site I will be sorting some presents to send this weekend.Sending my best wishes to all the children on this site xxxxx love ginette

Fri 13th August 2010 - 09:16:56 PM

Hi Courtenay has had a good month, she saw her Paedatrician who says that everything is ok for now. Courtenay is waiting to be referred for an earing tests because we find that we have to say somethings over and over before she answers. Firstly we thought that it maybe stubborness but her teacher supressed a concern about Courtenay's hearing.

We are frustrated about the bone density tests because the paedatrician is no longer referring her for them. It's difficult because that doctor doesn't specialise in NF and wasn't taking our concerns seriously. Courtenay has had 4 breaks in 2 years, the last she woke up in bed in the morning with.
Last week I saw my own NF specialist in London and I asked about Courtenay's breaks and if there could be a link with NF. She says yes definately because in NF bones are more brittle and thinner. She is now trying to refer Courtenay to a NF paedatrician at Guy's hospital.

Courtenay has another accident the other day, she caught her finger and ripped the nail off, so she had another visit to hospital. She is very accident prone bit the clumsiness is due to NF (or so we have been told).

We are all off to Turkey for 2 weeks on 14th Aug so we are hoping for our first holiday without a hospital or doctor visit with courtenay. Our holiday insurrance is well used lol.

I am so glad that Jon Paul is showing signs of improvement. Jon Paul I think you are an inspiration to us all. xx

Tue 10th August 2010 - 01:34:11 PM

Hello. I have just sent a little something for Jaz and your sister but I wish I cud send you all something. You are absolutely amazing pepal. The world has so much to learn from you. I love seeing the smiles on your faces. I have severe M.E so I no a bit of what it is to suffer but you are all awesome and so are the pepal who run lis site. It is brilliant. Keep enjoying life as mush as you can. Every day shud be precious for us all. Lots of gentle hugs. Daniel (12)

Mon 9th August 2010 - 01:19:07 AM

Hello Jon Paul :)
Glad to hear things have improved for you a little.

Best Wishes x

Sun 8th August 2010 - 07:55:39 PM

Hi Jon Paul!
So glad to read u r through the worst. keep :-) more post is on its way :-)
Love Bethan.x

Sat 7th August 2010 - 08:01:56 PM