Four-year-old girl beats leukaemia

Exeter Leukaemia Fund’s youngest ever patient has beaten leukaemia after undergoing two years of cancer treatment.

Last week, four-year-old Sophia Windsor from Crediton rang the bell on the children’s ward at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital, marking the triumphant end of her fight back to health.

The feisty little girl who beat the odds was diagnosed with leukaemia at just 15 months old.

It is poignant that she completed her treatment this September because it marks both blood cancer awareness and childhood cancer awareness month.

Above: Sophie. Image: Sophia's family

For her parents, Serann and Jason, this also marks the end of a long journey, significantly supported throughout by Exeter Leukaemia Fund (ELF), a charity that assists patients with blood cancers and their families.

Serann commented: “It’s hard to explain what they mean to me. They and all the medical team have become like family. They are so good at what they do, and so good with Sophia.”

Sophia first became ill in May 2022 but didn’t receive a formal diagnosis until August.

Serann said: “I was at the hospital by myself with Sophia, and I had to phone Jason and tell him that his daughter had cancer. It was awful.”

Sophia was initially treated at Bristol Children’s Hospital before being transferred back to Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital.

However, her condition worsened with sickness, diarrhoea, pneumonia, and eventually sepsis; dangerously low potassium levels nearly caused heart failure.

She was promptly returned to Bristol and admitted to intensive care.

Serann explained: “Looking back, the diagnosis was a breeze compared to what happened later. I had to leave her while she was in ITU. It was heartbreaking because we’d never spent a night apart.”

Eventually, Sophia’s condition improved enough for her to be able to start chemotherapy. 

Three months after being admitted to Bristol, she returned home to Devon to continue her treatment at RD&E Hospital on Bramble ward.

Sophia’s cancer has deeply affected the family, causing Serann and Jason to miss significant moments like their son’s first day of school and Serann’s older son’s GCSE results day.

Above: Sophia, along with her parents Serann and Jason, and big brother Alfie. Image: Sophia's family

However, they have found a silver lining in the support they’ve received from ELF.

Serann added: “I don’t drive, so I used their transport services. They’ve helped us out financially, and we have had two grants from ELF, who also bought the children Christmas presents.

“I have used ELF’s counselling service, which was so helpful. I talked about how Sophia’s diagnosis was affecting me personally. I had questions going through my mind, and they helped me try and process it all. We are so grateful for that support.”

Serann also explained that despite Sophia now being in remission, she still feels anxious about the possibility of future illnesses.

“You want nothing more than to have your own daughter back and to be able to make decisions for yourself, but there’s that feeling of a safety net being taken away.”

The medical team will continue to monitor Sophia until she is 16, and the family will remain supported by ELF.

“We’ll be using ELF for a long time. As long as they will have us, we will be part of the ELF family until she’s grown. They do so much—it’s an amazing and beautiful thing because they help keep you together while you’re going through such a difficult experience.”

Molly Southwood, CEO of ELF, said: “Sophia’s situation really moved us all, and we are so happy to see the happy, healthy little girl she is today.

“Sadly, there are so many families in similar situations. ELF aims to be there for every patient in Devon going through blood cancer and helped over 300 families last year alone. We are so grateful to everyone in the local community who supports us and enables us to provide our vital services.”

You can find more information about ELF's work and make a donation here.