Baby Melody, who is facing cancer with giggles and smiles, is enchanted by her cute Cuddles bear, which helps comfort and entertain her while in hospital
When a cold proves to be cancer…
When Rachel and Kevin’s smiley four-month old baby, Melody, developed a cold in April 2025, they little suspected that their little girl’s snuffles would be anything out of the ordinary.
However, when the cold affected Melody’s breathing – she become so bunged up she was unable to breastfeed properly – alarm bells started to ring.
Melody has an extremely rare type of fast-developing blood cancer, which affects around 100 children and young adults diagnosed each year in the UK
A race to hospital
After 12 hours passed without a single wet nappy, Rachel raced Melody to their local hospital in Poole, Dorset, to get her checked over.
“The first consultant thought it was bronchiolitis, which can cause breathing problems. They wanted to send Melody home. Luckily she was seen by another consultant who fitted Melody with a nasogastric (NG) tube* and kept her in overnight. The next day Melody was examined by yet another consultant, who ordered a GAS** (blood gas) test.”
Devastating leukaemia diagnosis
Within minutes of the GAS result, more blood tests were taken and just one hour later, doctors delivered the devastating news that Melody had leukaemia.
Medical intervention began immediately. Melody was given a platelet transfusion before being transferred to a Paediatric Intensive Care unit in Southampton. There she spent 30 days in intensive care, involving two weeks on a ventilator and two rounds of chemotherapy.
Despite all the trauma of treatments including chemotherapy and a bone marrow transplant, Melody remains a smiley happy baby
Intensive treatment programme
Further tests revealed worse news. Melody had a high risk form of leukaemia – AML (Acute Myeloid Leukaemia) an extremely rare type of fast-developing blood cancer, which affects around 100 children and young adults diagnosed each year in the UK).
Melody urgently needed a bone marrow transplant and in August she was transferred to Great Ormond Street Hospital, where she received a bone marrow procedure.
Rachel describes the agony that she felt when they received Melody’s diagnosis.
“It didn’t feel real. I was so shocked, I had to ask the consultant to repeat her words. Hearing those words was like a stabbing pain in my heart.”
Melody’s mum Rachel-Elizabeth describes her baby as a real fighter despite being so poorly
Smiles and giggles despite her cancer
Despite the intensity of Melody’s different treatments – including blood and platelet transfusions, conditioning chemo, and numerous medication – Rachel has managed to breastfeed her daughter throughout, providing a comforting and reassuring presence.
“We do as much as possible with Melody – playing with her and giving lots of cuddles and love. She’s an inspiration, because she’s smiled and giggled throughout, whereas I have cried continuously. She’s such a fighter even when feeling poorly.”
Rachel spends lots of time with Melody, who was just four months old when she was diagnosed with leukaemia
Coping with cancer
Melody adores her older siblings, who visit her frequently in hospital
As well as coping with Melody’s illness and demanding treatment regime, Rachel and her partner Kevin have to juggle work and family life, as Melody has four older siblings – two-year-old Felicity and Liberty, age six. Plus twins Tom and Iz, age ten They have use of a charity house and family room near GOSH, which means they can bring all the children to London to spend time with Melody, who adores her siblings.
Special ted brings comfort to a precious girl
Rachel and her partner Kevin are very grateful to everyone who donates to send Cuddles bears to children with cancer in hospital, like Melody
A Cuddles for Christmas bear from Cancer Support UK arrived at just the right time, bringing comfort and distraction from the stress of coping with cancer.
“This warmable bear is wonderfully comforting and brings a smile to Melody’s face,” says Rachel. “It’s the perfect size for her and we are so grateful to everyone who donated and ensured Melody received her cute ted. It’s been a godsend at this difficult time.”
Cuddles for Christmas
Sadly, many children with cancer may spend the time leading up to Christmas in a hospital bed, enduring painful cancer treatments instead of enjoying all the fun of festive celebrations. At times like this, only a cuddle from a special teddy will do.
So this Christmas, we’re aiming to send 1,200 bears to hospitals and hospices across the UK by 21 December to ensure that children with cancer, like Melody, feel comforted and less alone. Will you help us send a ted to a hospital bed today by giving a donation?
*used to delivery hydration or medication directly into the stomach via the nose and throat.
** a test used to measure carbon dioxide levels to show a baby’s respiratory condition.
