On the evening of Saturday 4th October 2008 Molly’s parents noticed that she had a slight droopiness on one side of her face. 5 minutes later it had gone but when she smiled they could see that there was a slight difference. Monday 6th October Molly’s mum took her to their GP who refered them straight to Childrens Assesment Centre K&C where they saw two doctors who diagnosed possible Bells Palsy (an inflammed facial nerve) or a viral infection. They were told to return in a weeks time for a check up. As the week passed Molly started getting headaches and vomiting and an eye test also revealed nothing untoward. Her parents contacted the hospital who said it was all to do with the viral infection she had. After 2 days of vomiting her parents who were not happy with initial diagnosis took her to an out of hours GP service where again, the doctor said she had viral infection.
Finally a week later Molly’s check up appt came and Molly and her parents saw another doctor. This was the 4th doctor in a week to see Molly and finally aggreed that Molly did need a brain scan. The results came back that day, Molly had 3 tumours on her brain. The family were transferred to Q.E.Q.M that night as there was no beds in London. They waited a week for that bed but in the meantime were given some hope. Doctors in London has seen her brain scan and said they were benign and that Molly was NOT an urgent case.
Tuesday 21st saw Molly transferred to Evelina Childrens Hospital, London. On seeing Molly they arranged her to have a full body scan. This scan revealed the 3 tumours on her brain had trebled in size and had spread to her spine. She was fighting for her life. Molly was then sent to Peadiatric Intensive Care Unit at Kings College Hospital where she continued to deterioate. She had an operation to perform a biopsy on one of the spinal tumors.
Monday 27th October was Molly’s big brother Colby’s 8th Birthday. She had another brain scan after she became more ill the results came back that evening. The steroids that they have given her to stop the tumours growing were working. They had not grown anymore. Unfortunately the next day Molly failed to respond to the doctors tests. She died peacefully in her parents and Colby’s arms on Tuesday 28th October. The biopsy results came back 2 days after she died. She had Atypical Teratoid Rhaboid Tumour (ATRT).
Molly was a very lively 4 year old. Always on the go and everything had to 100mph. She adored her brother Colby (8) and bossed him around liked she was the older sibling. She had 2 sides to her personality. A girly girl who loved dressing up as a princess and liked putting makeup on. She liked to dance around the house pretending to a memeber of Girls Aloud always putting on shows. The other a tomboy, she liked football and wrestling and being outside with the boys mucking in. She was a real allrounder, very popular and bright. We used to get told by other people/parents that she was very special and had something about her. She was very brave right up till the end.
Fundraising
Past events
- Saturday 7th February 2009 – Molly’s great uncle Gary Wellings “32 Mile Twilight Challenge”
- Saturday 28th February 2009 – Quiz night (150 people)
- April 2009 – Kim Debling is running the London Marathon
- May 2009 – Walk for Molly
- June 2009 – Molly’s camping day
- Saturday 29th August 2009-Dinner and Dance
The Dinner and Dance was a success raising an approximate £2,500!! There was not a dry eye in the house when Molly’s Movie, consisting of photos and video footage of her, was played. A big thanks to the winner of the £1000 cash prize who kindly donated £500 from the prize back to the fund. The event can be seen in picture at www.bayimages.co.uk.