It has been just over two years since Chloe was diagnosed with Retinoblastoma (cancer of the retina) in her left eye. Shortly after her diagnosis, New Life Home Trust put out an urgent appeal for donations to go towards her travel to and treatment in London and many of you came forward and donated generously.
Words cannot express how grateful I am for your kindness and generosity. I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your support. Thank you for holding up Chloe at her time of need. This has had an impact on her life and her future, and she could not have done it without you. I celebrate the love and kindness that you demonstrated. This will stay with me forever.
Your donations went a long way in enabling and supporting Chloe’s treatment. They helped to pay for some of the air tickets for travel between Nairobi and London, for her EUA’s (examination under anesthesia) following her sessions of systemic chemotherapy, covered the costs of some medication, the high calorie formula and equipment that she needed for tube feeding.
After undergoing six grueling sessions of systemic chemotherapy between April and July 2018, Chloe and I returned to Kenya. She continued to have monthly EUAs at Moorfields Eye Hospital in London. In November 2018 she relapsed with the tumour showing signs of new growth and her doctor recommended more chemotherapy. Chloe received inter-arterial chemotherapy (IAC) at Great Ormond Street Hospital in November, December 2018 and January 2019. Fortunately, with inter-arterial chemotherapy the adverse effects that are seen with systemic chemotherapy are limited, so we were allowed to travel back to Kenya after each session. She responded well to the treatment and continued to have monthly EUAs at Moorfields.
In June 2019 she had plaque radiotherapy at the Royal London Hospital to control the recurrence of cancerous activity in the tumour. After this we continued to travel to London monthly for her EUAs and in August 2019 she relapsed yet again and her doctor found that some of the vitreous seeds (break-away cells from the tumour that float in the vitreous gel of the eye) that had persisted had landed on her retina and had started to grow. He recommended more inter-arterial chemotherapy and in September, October, November and December 2019 Chloe underwent IAC at Great Ormond Street Hospital.
In January 2020 after her EUA at Moorfields, Chloe got her first clear report, no evidence of cancer. We received another clear report in February, April 2020 and her doctor is optimistic that she will remain cancer free.
Chloe will continue to have EUAs until she is 16 – at some point these will become yearly. This will ensure that her eyes and the rest of her body remain healthy.
Today Chloe is a sweet, happy and active 3 ½ year old who enjoys singing, dancing, crafts and adores Peppa Pig! She brings me so much joy and adds plenty of colour to my life.
Please continue to pray for Chloe’s complete remission.
Thank you and God bless you.
Mama Chloe.