Ava’s Story: You’re helping Ava’s family face the future

For six-year-old Ava and her mum Katie, your support meant more than practical help – it helped them face the hardest time of their lives.

“Ava’s always been a real girly girl,” says Katie. “She loves make-up, gymnastics and swimming, like most young girls.”

When Ava started getting pains in her side and falling asleep, Katie knew something was wrong. “I had this sinking feeling I had to get this seen,” she says. She took Ava straight to A&E and was told she had leukaemia.

“Your life is just turned upside down,” says Katie. “In that moment I knew that life would change, but I had no idea quite how much.”

Since then, life has been constant hospital appointments and treatment, bringing huge stresses for Ava, her twin sister Amy, and Katie. “I felt like I had to be really strong for everybody, but I just couldn’t,” says Katie. “I was absolutely exhausted.”

Money was a worry, too. “My pay started at 100% and then it dropped to 25% over the year so things were definitely tighter,” says Katie. There were the extra costs of hospital parking and petrol, as well as rent, food and other family essentials.

Soon after Ava was diagnosed, Katie was put in touch with Lisa, one of our specialist social workers. Lisa helped Katie claim the financial support she was entitled to: “That was huge, because it took the pressure off financially.”

But for Katie, what Lisa offered was so much more than practical advice. “With Lisa I could say ‘I’m not coping,’” she says. “I could say how I was feeling and what support I needed.”

“Lisa was always on the end of the phone. You knew she would pop in and see you, and she was always a friendly face. Without her and Young Lives vs Cancer, there wouldn’t have been anybody else to turn to.”

Lisa referred Katie to a counsellor, so Katie had the space to talk to someone about what she was going through: “That was a gamechanger”. When a wheelchair for Ava was delayed, Lisa chased it up and it arrived soon after.

Then, when the uncertainty of Ava’s treatments forced Katie to cancel their family summer holiday, Lisa arranged one at the last minute. “It was the best week we had because life was a bit normal,” says Katie. “We could relax.”

This is the difference your support makes, every day. You give families like Ava’s the space and strength they need to face the future. Thank you.