Family Thanks Care Team as Young Patient Completes Leukaemia Treatment
The family of six-year-old Esther Micklewright have thanked the team that saved their daughter after a courageous two-year battle with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia, a rare cancer affecting the blood and bone marrow.
In April this year, Esther completed her treatment and marked the milestone by ringing the hospital’s end-of-treatment bell, surrounded by her family and care team.
Her mum, Laura Micklewright, a Teaching Assistant from Sutton Coldfield, said: “It was an amazing moment. We were very emotional. We are just so grateful to the staff and everything they have done for us as a family.”
Esther first became unwell around Christmas 2023. After a bout of viruses, Esther underwent tests at her local A&E.
Laura explained: “As parents we knew something wasn’t right. She was unusually pale and struggling to get over illness. We thought this must be more than the usual winter bugs, but we never imagined it could be cancer.
“After we took her to our local A&E, we were blue-lighted to Birmingham Children’s Hospital in the middle of the night and she was admitted to intensive care.”
Later, Laura and husband Sam were told the devastating news that Esther had acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.
She said: “It was such a shock. It was difficult to even process. The doctors told us that we needed to start treatment straight away, and that this would be a two-year journey.”
Esther received chemotherapy treatment at our hospital’s specialist Children’s Cancer Centre.
Laura shared: “The staff on Ward 18 and on Oncology Day Clinic made what should have been a frightening environment into one filled with music, laughter and smiles.
“Sally Spencer, Esther’s Advanced Nurse Practitioner, was one of the nurses who looked after us and was also part of the amazing Singing Medicine team. They brought so much happiness to Esther during a dark time in our lives.
“They came to support us when Esther had anaesthetics and other procedures that she was really scared of and, along with her nurses, sang to her to help alleviate her fears.”
Now in recovery, Esther is enjoying life at home with little sister Gracie. She has returned to school, where she enjoys learning and playing with her friends in Year One.
Sally Spencer, Leukaemia Advanced Nurse Practitioner, said: “Esther has done so well throughout her treatment. She had to have lots of procedures that really scared her throughout the two years, but with the help of all those caring for her and the Singing Medicine team she became really confident and dealt with everything brilliantly.”
“It has been a pleasure to look after her and her family and it is lovely to see her looking so well now.”