Tanwen had just celebrated her second birthday in April 2025 when her parents noticed she was poorly. At first, they thought she’d picked up a bug at nursery. She was snotty and a bit tired, which didn’t seem that unusual. But after a week or so, she began to look very pale and was getting upset when she attempted to walk.
Her parents tried to make an appointment to visit the GP but were told there was nothing available for a fortnight. Over the following weekend, they discussed whether to ask for something sooner, but events quickly overtook them. On Monday morning, Tanwen woke looking and feeling worse than ever, and barely able to sit up.
Her parents rushed her to A&E at Shrewsbury Hospital. The medics got straight to work, undertaking blood tests and an ultrasound. The results were worrying. Tanwen’s blood levels were dangerously low and she had an enlarged liver and spleen. From Shrewsbury, she was transferred to the children’s ward at Telford Hospital where she was given a blood and platelet transfusion. It was there that the family were given the devastating news – Tanwen had leukaemia, although it was not yet confirmed which kind.
It was May, just weeks after her birthday – a moment her family will never forget.
Once Tanwen was stable, she was transferred to Birmingham Children’s Hospital, where she had more transfusions, as well as a lumbar puncture and bone marrow biopsy. When the biopsy results came back, it was confirmed that Tanwen had Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia (ALL).
Its been a rollercoaster journey for Tanwen and her family
Tanwen underwent five separate blocks of chemotherapy
Since then, this little girl has had five separate blocks of chemotherapy, all slightly different but equally intense. Unfortunately, Tanwen has experienced bad reactions to several of the medications so treatment has taken longer than it should have.
Tanwen has now made it to the maintenance phase, which is a little easier for her, although she still has a daily and weekly dose of oral chemotherapy, as well as a monthly dose of another into her central line, and a chemo drug into her spinal fluid every three months. On top of that, she has a week of a steroid drug each month and preventative antibiotics every weekend. It’s still a lot for a little girl but gentler on her tiny body than the blocks of chemotherapy that preceded it. The maintenance phase is designed to maintain remission and stop the cancer coming back, and will last around a year and a half.
It’s been a rollercoaster journey for her and the family, which includes Tanwen’s three older brothers and older sister, who she refers to as her ‘guys’. At the end of the chemotherapy blocks, Tanwen came home only to become extremely ill with a lung infection, sepsis and severe neuropathy, which meant she wasn’t even strong enough to breathe for herself. It was a very scary time for them all.
A Kids’ Kit made a world of difference
A Kid’s Kit from Cancer Support UK made a world of difference
In the midst of treatment, when her morale was at its lowest, the arrival of her Kids’ Kit made a world of difference. Tanwen was very excited to show everyone what was inside, but no one else was allowed to play with any of it! The kit made hospital visits that bit easier, with Tanwen immersed in the activity book and distracted by the bubbles. The warmable soft toy proved to be a particular hit, a comforting ritual she’s wanted to maintain. Every night, she shouts out, ‘Warm bear!’
For her mum Kay, the kit’s arrival was a really special moment. ‘It was wonderful to see Tanwen’s little face light up while she explored everything that was in the kit,’ she says. ‘She had just finished a round of high-dose chemo so was quite poorly when it arrived. It’s heartwarming to think that even strangers care. I hope they know what a difference a thing like this makes, especially for children as young as Tanwen. They don’t need big grand gestures. They just need little sparks of joy – and that’s exactly what this little kit was for her.’
After a long, arduous journey, life is now looking a little brighter
Throughout it all, Tanwen’s cheeky, fun-loving personality has shone through.
Tanwen has amazed everyone and fought like crazy from the start, going from not being able to even move her legs to walking again, from having to be fed via a tube to eating her mum out of house and home!
Throughout it all, her cheeky, fun-loving personality has shone through. Even when she’s down, she enjoys making others laugh. An adventurous girl who loves animals, digging in the garden and exploring new places, Tanwen now struggles with balance and gets tired very easily, but she is still happiest out in nature. Her central line is still needed, but Tanwen is able to wear pretty dresses again, and feel like a little girl once more. It’s been a long and arduous journey for this little girl and her family, but life is looking a little brighter.
Can you help send sparks of joy to a child with cancer like Tanwen?
Cancer Support UK want to ensure that every child facing cancer can have a free Kids Kit to bring a moment of joy and comfort when they need it most. By donating to our Christmas ‘Fill A Kit’ campaign, you can bring a spark of joy to a child like Tanwen.
If you can, please donate today and help us fill a kit with comfort, hope, and care.
Thank you for your kindness and compassion.
Mark Guymer
CEO – Cancer Support UK
