Campaign to send two-year-old Florence Jackson from Speldhurst to America for cancer treament
Published: 09:51, 18 January 2017
Well-wishers have rushed to help give 'last chance' treatment to a two-year-old tot who is battling a rare tumour "tangled" in her body.
Little Florence Jackson's parents are in a race against time to raise £250,000 to fund the operation.
But kind strangers have already donated more than £70,000 just in two days - nearly 30% of the target.
So far more than 3,000 people have contributed to the appeal.
Florence has spent most of her short life in hospital fighting stage four neuroblastoma.
The brave toddler endured 20 rounds of chemotherapy, major surgery and five weeks of radiotherapy, and initially looked like she was getting better.
But tragically the remaining tumour left behind after the op has grown and last week her devastated parents were told it was too dangerous to remove because it is tangled in her blood vessels.
Determined to fight for their little girl, Carolyn and Rodney Jackson have found a doctor in New York who has performed similar operations on tumours in children.
Mum-of-two Carolyn, 47, from Tunbridge Wells, said: "We owe it Florence to fight on, just as she is bravely doing - but we have to act fast.
"Her tiny body has bravely coped with 20 rounds of chemotherapy, major surgery, a stem cell transplant and five weeks of radiotherapy.
"This was all topped off with immunotherapy treatment, which was meant to complete her treatment.
"Sadly, our hopes that Florence could soon start enjoying a life free of cancer were cruelly dashed in November 2016.
"A routine CT scan showed that the tumor was growing again, despite everything that had been thrown at it.
"And a recent follow-up scan in January 2017 has shown that the tumour has spread into her stomach and has wrapped around her blood vessels.
"As a result, the doctors have told us the tumour is too dangerous to remove and there's nothing more they can do. But we can. And we will.
"We have found this doctor and he is the best surgeon in the world at this kind of operation.
"If he can't remove it then Florence won't be with us. We need to do something very quickly."
Florence started to become unwell in 2015 when her mum noticed she wasn't eating as much and had a rounded tummy, but medics initially diagnosed constipation.
In November 2015 Carolyn, who was an IT consultant before Florence was diagnosed, took her to A&E with a "rock hard" stomach.
A few weeks later she was diagnosed with stage 4 neuroblastoma aged just 16 months old, and a scan revealed a 11cm by 9cm tumour on her left adrenal gland.
"It's complicated because it's not like a lump - the tumour is like a tree," explained Carolyn.
"It is a tangle and it grows around her blood vessels and was around the main artery to her stomach, making it difficult to remove."
She had 12 rounds of chemo and it dramatically shrunk before an operation in March 2016 removed 80 per cent of the mass.
But the rest was left behind and she had five weeks of radiotherapy and months of high dose chemo before she was allowed to go home with Carolyn, Rodney, 42, an estate agent, and sister Charlotte, five.
Carolyn added: "She was amazing. We had an amazing summer of running around the garden and playing.
"Apart from the tube in her nose and no hair, she didn't look ill at all.
"But it all changed in October last year."
But a scan in November revealed the tumour had grown again and last month the family were told it had spread into her stomach, was wrapped around her blood vessels, and was too dangerous to remove.
"It's complicated because it's not like a lump - the tumour is like a tree" - Carolyn Jackson
The family claim world-class Dr Michael. P. La Quaglia in New York has been able to operate in similar situations in the past.
Their UK doctors are now putting together her results so the family can send it to him, Carolyn said.
Medics estimate the operation would cost £220,000 - with more needed for accommodation and Florence is currently at the Royal Marsden Hospital in Sutton, Surrey.
When asked about a deadline for fundraising, Carolyn said: "We don't know.
"She's due to start more chemo on Saturday, Sunday and Monday and we'll know more after that when she has another scan.
"We asked the consultant and they said we were talking about months rather than anything else."
"Time is not on our side.
"If people can spare any amount, no matter how small, it will dramatically improve Florence's chances of living to see her third, and many more birthdays."
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Claire McWethy