Eileidh Rose Paterson was born on 14^th March 2012, weighing 6lb 1oz. She was a happy baby & grew into a very bright, sociable, independent & stubborn little girl.

All this changed in May 2014 when 2 year old Eileidh started to experience difficulty breathing.  Her mother, Gail, also noticed that Eileidh’s tummy was bloated. Their GP prescribed medication for trapped wind and told them to return the next day if Eileidh was no better. The following day, Eileidh was quiet and withdrawn, which was not like her at all, preferring instead to cuddle up with her blanket.

The family GP immediately arranged for Eileidh to be seen at the Royal Aberdeen Children’s Hospital. After many tests throughout the night, Gail was taken into a small room and told the devastating news that a tumour had been found in Eileidh’s abdomen and that an MRI scan was needed.

Unfortunately the scan results showed that she had Stage 4 High Risk neuroblastoma.

More tumours were found…

Like more than half of children diagnosed with neuroblastoma, the cancer had spread throughout Eileidh’s body by the time it was discovered. The primary tumour was attached to Eileidh’s adrenal gland and encased around the artery to her right kidney. There were also secondary tumours in her bone marrow, pancreas, and lymph nodes in the left hand side of her bottom jaw. So far Eileidh has endured chemotherapy, surgery, high dose chemotherapy with stem cell transplant, radiotherapy and immunotherapy.

Gail says, “My amazing little girl is fighting this evil disease with everything she has. She has coped brilliantly with it so far but she still has months of gruelling treatment ahead of her. Her energy and smile make everyone treating Eileidh adore her.”

Eileidh’s fight continues…

At the end of May, Eileidh’s antibody treatment will end. If final scans show no evidence of disease, this will signify the end of Eileidh’s current treatment path in the UK.

Eileidh’s family are urgently fundraising so that she can access a clinical trial in the US where she’ll receive an experimental drug which is believed to reduce the risk of relapse.

This treatment has been approved by Eileidh’s UK oncologists and a similar drug trial, funded by SKC, will be open in this country next year.

High risk neuroblastoma has a high rate of relapse which means the disease often returns after periods in remission. With this in mind, Eileidh’s family want her to participate in this trial to do everything they can to reduce the risk of the cancer returning.

Eileidh is a happy girl who adores Minnie Mouse, Frozen & Sofia the First.

We must raise £100,000 by June 2015 to make this possible.

“Our hearts broke the day we found out she had cancer,” say Gail’s family.“Eileidh deserves the chance to live a full & happy life, which most of us take for granted. We need your help to piece them back together and make our family whole again.”

To read more about Eileidh visit our website: http://www.SolvingKidsCancer.org.uk/appeal/eileidh/

To follow Eileidh's story visit her Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/eileidhsjourney 

Appeal Terms and Conditions

All donations are paid into Solving Kids' Cancer's general funds to further its general charitable purposes. The funds raised by this Appeal are not restricted for the child's use. However, the trustees of Solving Kids' Cancer have agreed to designate 93% of funds raised by this Appeal to help the child and their family pay for treatment costs and all other associated costs including travel and accommodation. We will use the remaining 7% to pay for Solving Kids' Cancer's administrative and fundraising costs. If the child no longer needs the funds, and if the fundraising target is exceeded or insufficient funds are raised to fund the treatment, or if the trustees decide, at their absolute discretion, that the funds should be used for a different purpose, they may redesignate all or part of the 93% for Solving Kids' Cancer's general charitable purposes. We are very grateful for your charitable donation.

For further information about Solving Kids' Cancer and how we spend donations, please see our FAQs.

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