Thanks for taking the time to visit our JustGiving page in memory of Lexie.

Lovely Lexie passed away on 7th June 2021, she was just 13 years old. She was first diagnosed with osteosarcoma in April 2019 after finding a lump in her lower left leg. She had a rare genetic disorder, Rapadalino Syndrome, which is often linked to two types of cancer, including osteosarcoma. Lexie’s parents, Sue and Brian, contacted the geneticists who were already working with Lexie for her genetic disorder and arranged an x-ray through their GPs. This was the start of their cancer journey. 

Sue said: “They did a biopsy and confirmed our worst nightmare of cancer in her left leg. Then we met Quentin [consultant oncologist at Great North Children’s Hospital] and she started chemo straight away.”

Lexie and her mum spent most of the first year of her treatment staying on ward 4 at the Great North Children’s Hospital. She had 5 months of MAP chemotherapy treatment and then in September 2019 she had an operation to remove her fibula bone in her left leg aswell as muscles and nerves. She spent 10 hours in surgery. 

The surgery was followed by more chemotherapy which she finished in March 2020, to be told in April 2020 that the cancer had spread to other areas of her body.

By November 2020 the cancer in Lexie’s leg was so extensive that she had to have her leg amputated and a prosthetic limb created. Lexie’s spirit, determination and sense of humour helped to see her through these challenges;  “She was discharged just 4 days after her amputation operation, which is unusually fast. They cast her with a limb and she had it home within 5 weeks, she was so headstrong and very determined. The majority of the time she put a great face on. She hadn't seen friends for 3 years. "She spent so much time at hospital that the staff, the nurses and doctors have become more her friends than her real friends.”

“I remember the ward being a really happy place when we went in for the first time, not what I expected. We’ve had some great laughs with the nurses, Lexie loved to prank them. She has always been a bit sassy.”

In December 2020 Lexie started a new drugs trial, “It meant everything that she had been able to access the trials. It meant that we still had hope. We just had to take it step by step and keep hoping and wishing.

Lexie’s brother Owen, is only 18 months older than her, has been a great support. “He’s really into mountain biking but his activities have dwindled away, spending time at home with her or travelling up to see her. They were so very close.

Before her passing, Lexie had a new focus to raise funds for childhood cancer treatments and trials to find new drugs. “We need to get some new treatments for kids, drugs that are not so harsh on their bodies.”

Lexie designed some hoodies and bags to sell, and only a few weeks on has raised just under £600 for research so far; she always wanted to give back and help other children and so we will continue in her memory"