Many of us will be willing away 2020 but some more than others and particularly so a family of four from Twickenham. Meet the Fulford-Browns. Parents, Nick and Hannah and their two daughters Phoebe and Sasha.
In the autumn of 2019, their eldest Phoebe was complaining of a sore knee. Not uncommon for an active thirteen year on the cusp of adulthood. Just growing pains. The normal aches and pains that we all get and we all walk off. The pain will go, only it didn’t.
Into 2020 and the pain worsened. Appointments with the GP and physio agreed that it was ligaments and or muscle strains and nothing that time and rest would not put right. But it worsened and Phoebe started to limp. She needed to be driven to and fro school and to take Co-codamol. Finally, an appointment was made to see a paediatric orthopaedic consultant but the eight week wait would be long and painful. Two weeks ahead of this all-important appointment, the pain became unbearable and Hannah took her daughter to A&E, only to be told the same thing. It was muscular and there was nothing that could be done.
The consultant read Phoebe’s notes and organised a routine X-ray as part of his examination. On studying the X-ray, he deigned to send Phoebe for another immediate X-ray. Still, Hannah didn’t suspect that anything was grave. She was just relieved to finally be with a consultant, that something was obviously wrong and that now it could be treated.
Phoebe is a bright young girl and she might have sensed that something was awry. She explained to her mum that at the first X-ray there were two operatives present and at the second, there were eight. That evening, Phoebe had an emergency MRI and it confirmed the terrifying news.
The consultant was very much to the point. Phoebe had a tumour. Osteosarcoma to use its medical term. They can afflict anyone but are most associated with children in the growing phase of life. Thankfully very rare with a GP usually experiencing only one case in a career. But of course this is no consolation for Phoebe and her devastated parents.
Phoebe was diagnosed on 28th January 2020, her dad’s birthday as a matter of fact and just ahead of lockdown which compounded the gruelling treatment that lay ahead.
Hannah had breast cancer in 2016 and her experience was useful to draw upon but it was also foreboding because she had a sense of what Phoebe faced.
Because the condition is so rare, the drugs have not advanced very much since their inception in the 1960’s. A sledgehammer to crush a nut. The nurses explained that the chemo-therapy treatment for this rare cancer is the most harsh and which some patients are unable to complete. Not to mention the surgery itself, a five hour operation to remove Hannah’s knee and her 16cm tumour plus 20cm’s of her femur.
My friend has recently had his knee replaced. He explained that it was unbearably painful and that it took him all his effort to accommodate the pain and to recover.
Imagine then Phoebe’s plight because just two weeks after her surgery, her chemotherapy needed to recommence. Eight further rounds were required. Twelve in total, all administered in Stanmore hospital, a 90 minute drive each way.
Watching the video interview between Sam and Phoebe, none of this hardship comes over. Phoebe is bright and effervescent. Her smiles and laughs belie what she and her family has endured.
A child’s illness is every parent’s nightmare and yet it is a reality of course and this where charities like Momentum can step in and have such a positive impact. Hannah is fulsome in her praise of Momentum, explaining that they were the very best and the high point of Phoebe’s year. Momentum plugged the family in to a web of care when other agencies had closed for lockdown and it was a vital connection and support for the family. Providing emotional strength and making available a network of shared experience and empathy. It is not just Phoebe who suffered. Her younger sister, Sasha was terrified to see Phoebe so ill. Losing her hair and being unable to be her big and strong sister. Momentum became a constant resource for the family with their support workers. Momentum provided the family with a chance for weekend breaks in their new forest cabin and their mobile bird show with real life owls visited their home and made both girls beam with delight. Distraction is a powerful tool in adversity and Momentum understand this and know how to provide it.
The Brothers Trust are keen that we support charities with a muscular conversion of the money we grant to create positive outcomes. Speaking to Hannah on the phone, gave a real insight in to the great work that Momentum do. How necessary they are for children and their families when something so life changing occurs. Momentum is the very best kind of charity. Spawned from seeing a need and drawing on local support to provide its on-going care.
Phoebe will be 15 in March. You will see in the video that her hair is coming back with gusto and this is because Phoebe is recovering. She remains on immunotherapy until the new year and will be scanned quarterly for the next two years.
Her bravery and fortitude is remarkable. Rightly so, her mum is remarkably proud of her and no doubt looking forward to Phoebe reclaiming her childhood and all that she can achieve ahead.
This year has been rotten for many people but most of our woes pale against what the Fulford-Browns have endured but it has been made much more bearable by Momentum. This is heartening to hear and why the Brothers Trust will continue to support them and we encourage anyone reading this to do the same in whatever way you can.
Specifically, Momentum are taking part in the BIG GIVE CHRISTMAS CHALLENGE where all donations are matched – and will enable the efforts of this important charity to flourish. Click here to donate