Jessica is the sweetest, kindest three-year-old. She loves animals and adores all things Peppa Pig-related, having recently visited PeppaPig World in between treatment. Jessica also loves playing and spending time with her cousin Maeve who is just a few months younger.
In April 2021, Jessica was diagnosed with high-risk neuroblastoma, a rare and aggressive childhood cancer that has a 40-50% chance of long-term survival at diagnosis. After Jessica was diagnosed, she started the standard frontline treatment path immediately, but the disease has not responded as hoped.
Her parents, Nathan and Anisa are currently fundraising for potentially lifesaving treatment, either to get their daughter into remission or to try and keep the cancer away if her frontline treatment does go to plan. This could cost hundreds of thousands of pounds.
Leading up to Jessicas first birthday, her parents Nathan and Anisa noticed Jessica wasnt her usual self. She was restless during the nights which they had attributed to her teething. A few weeks later, they noticed dark circles appearing under Jessicas eyes, so they contacted their GP and were referred to their local hospital for an eye appointment. Due to the waiting times, Jessicas parents, Nathan and Anisa, decided to take her to A&E at James Paget Hospital where she was kept overnight for tests to be carried out.
The very next day they were told by the doctor that they believed Jessica had neuroblastoma and she was sent by ambulance to Addenbrookes hospital. Jessica had a biopsy the following day and on the 22nd April 2021, Jessica was diagnosed with high-risk neuroblastoma. She began Rapid COJEC chemotherapy immediately.
After completing 8 rounds of chemotherapy, Jessica's scans came back showing less than a 50% reduction in overall disease. As a result of this, Jessica went on to have a further 8 rounds of chemotherapy which continued to reduce the disease, but unfortunately not enough for Jessica to be considered eligible for the next stages of frontline treatment - surgery and a stem cell transplant.
In March 2022, Jessica enrolled on the MiNivAn trial at Southampton Hospital. This therapy aims to improve outcomes for children with relapsed or refractory neuroblastoma by combining targeted radiotherapy (I-131 MIBG) with immunotherapy antibodies anti-GD2 (ch14.18/CHO) and anti-PD1 (Nivolumab). Jessicas initial scans showed broadly stable disease, which was disappointing.
Jessicas second set of scans during the trial showed improvement, with a considerable amount of disease having reduced. She completed the trial in November 2022 and final scans showed little change and her disease remains stable.
Jessica has undergone so much for someone so young having in the region of 30 blood transfusions, 20 scans, 4 Hickman lines, countless injections and travelling miles around the country for treatment. Even after all the treatment she has received she is doing amazingly well, says dad Nathan.
As Jessica has refractory disease and has not responded as hoped to the standard frontline treatment path, this means that her treatment options are more limited. Her family are raising funds for further treatment, either to get their daughter into remission or to try and keep the cancer away if her current treatment programme goes to plan. This could cost hundreds of thousands of pounds.
There are many ways you can help Jessica: by making a personal donation; by sharing and following her story on Facebook , Instagram and Twitter , holding a fundraising event; getting sponsored to take on a challenge.
To donate by text, send JESSICA followed by any whole amount up to £20 to 70450. This will cost your donation plus your standard network charge. It won't matter if you leave a space before the number, if you include a £ sign or whether you use upper or lower case.
You can make a donation via this page.
If you'd like to help to support Jessica's campaign, please get in touch with the fundraising team on 0207 284 0800 andfundraising@solvingkidscancer.org.uk
Funds raised will go towards helpingJessica and herfamily. IfJessica no longer needs the funds or is in remission five years post the end of successful treatment, the funds will be used to support other children and families affected by neuroblastoma through our activities. For children with high-risk neuroblastoma, like Jessica, the survival rate is much lower than other childhood cancers. Upon relapse, this rate reduces even further.
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