“I live with my mum, dad, two brothers, dog, two cats, guinea pig and rabbit. 
I go to school at The Marist in Ascot which I love – the teachers are great, and the Sports Department keep me very busy! 

Before my cancer diagnosis, I played netball, hockey, handball, and athletics at school. Our school team made the netball Nationals which was amazing to be part of. I also played netball outside of school with Windsor Royals for their South Region squad, County cricket for Berkshire, and golf for Surrey. It all kept me really busy so adapting to life during chemo has been difficult. 

For me, my cancer was diagnosed after feeling extremely tired, having really itchy skin, and getting pain in my jaw. We had to keep pushing the doctors for a diagnosis as I just wasn’t getting any better. Eventually, we went to a private GP where the doctor examined me and found a raised lymph node in my neck. Things kind of snowballed from there and I was admitted into hospital the next day as they suspected lymphoma. This was a massive shock as my GP kept telling me I was anaemic and now they were using the cancer word!

Following a stay in hospital to manage my pain and have a biopsy I was diagnosed with classic Hodgkin lymphoma 4B. A few weeks later I started chemotherapy – it all happened so quickly I almost couldn’t believe it was true. 

Everyone has been so supportive and kind, but being so ill in hospital really was a shock to the system. I felt so angry that this was happening to me. Seeing my friends and family so upset was also really hard to deal with. It helped getting a diagnosis and a plan of action, it was something to focus on and work towards. 

When I started treatment I was very sick, but a change in medications really helped. My haemoglobin level kept dropping and I became neutropenic (a condition where you have a low number of white blood cells called neutrophils in your blood, weakening the immune system) and ended up in hospital with a bad infection. 

Luckily, I had a room at St Peter’s Hospital which had been decorated by Momentum – it was bright and cheerful with space for my mum to stay over, and our own shower room. Following lots of antibiotics and a blood transfusion I started to feel a lot better. Unfortunately my hair started coming out in clumps so as soon as I got home I shaved it all off. Having had long hair all my life it was quite traumatic seeing it come out, so it kind of made me feel better just getting rid of it. My dad shaved his head too! 

I’ve been in hospital quite a lot for treatment and pain management. It is really nice to see familiar faces, it helps me feel more relaxed, especially seeing Sam and Emma, the Family Support Workers from Momentum. Having them check in with me has been really comforting. Sam even helped me get a pink sparkly cowboy hat when I went to see Harry Styles in concert!

I’ve met a few other patients in the hospitals, but we don’t really talk much as we’re normally getting prodded and poked having chemo. Momentum recently invited us to a film screening with Spider-Man Actor, Tom Holland, who is one of their Ambassadors. Other kids I have met in hospital were there and it was nice to be able to see some of them in a normal environment at the cinema. We were all smiling for a change! We were able to listen to Tom answer questions about his films and how he got into acting. It was so interesting and reminded me there is a whole exciting world out there. When your life revolves around hospital and doctor appointments it’s easy to forget. When you’re feeling a bit low and fed up you’re not doing what all your friends are doing, meeting Spider-Man is pretty cool!

Both my school & Royals Netball Club have been amazing since my diagnosis and have made sure they have included me in everything. My school helped me to adapt my Duke of Edinburgh expedition so I can complete my Bronze award, and my netball club has had me coaching from the bench and cheering from the sidelines! 

Whilst having treatment I have been focusing on spreading awareness of Hodgkin lymphoma and raising funds for different charities. If I had known, or if my doctor was more aware of the symptoms of lymphoma I may have been diagnosed sooner and my treatment might not have been so brutal. 

I’m slowly able to do more exercise so I’m trying to get back on track with my fitness. I appreciate it will take a while to get back to how I was, so am also working on my coaching skills in the meantime. It is nice to bring something else to the netball team. 

I have had to rethink so many plans since my cancer diagnosis, but I’m learning that it’s not necessarily a bad thing. I’ve realised I must go with the flow and I’ve signed up to get my PADI scuba diving qualification. I’m choosing to believe there are exciting times ahead.”