For any family, being told a child has cancer is one of the hardest and most confusing things to hear.
Alison Smith still remembers when he daughter Rachel was diagnosed with Leukaemia aged just three in 2005.
“In the first 24 hours she had three blood transfusions. Which in itself was just horrific for us,” she said.
“Then we were admitted in to the children’s cancer ward and that’s when it really hit home.
“Your child loses their childhood, you lose your child for the period of time they are being treated.”
While Rachel celebrated her fourth birthday in hospital, Alison was trying to come to terms with the diagnosis and says she was overwhelmed with the information.
“One mother said to me ‘it’ll be better once she gets her Hickman line and I said ‘what’s a Hickman line?’ and she pulled this plastic tube out of her son’s top.
“And I couldn’t believe what I was seeing it was this plastic tube coming out of her son’s chest. I thought not only does my daughter have cancer, but we’re going to have to have that – it was just horrific.”
Picture: Mum Alison Smith is now helping the team with the research
Nottingham Hospitals Charity is now funding a research project to find out what kind of support could help families get through every parent’s nightmare.
It is hoped a series of videos and advice pages will help bring families together so they can share experiences.
The study is being done by Nottingham University Hospitals Trust – which runs both the City Hospital and Queen’s Medical Centre.
Oonagh Meade, a research fellow at the University of Nottingham, is also part of the project,
She said: “Hopefully we can help parents in the future who are coming in to this difficult situation and help them to understand the different options they have.
“We’ve had 15 parents and carers take part and we’d love to get 30 or 40.”
After years of treatment Rachel Smith was finally given the all-clear in 2012 and her mum is a co-researcher on the project.
Picture: Rachel Smith was given the all-clear in 2012 after being treated at the QMC
“She’s doing brilliantly now,” said Alison, “she’s as bright as a button.
“Parents and carers want to be strong for their children. Young children often don’t worry about the future of a cancer diagnosis but as an adult you carry the emotional burden.
“As the parent it can have a huge psychological impact and it takes a massive toll on your mental well-being and your relationships. We want to put some support in place for those parents and carers.”
