Eva's story

“In February 2016, Eva was diagnosed with Stage 4 neuroblastoma and our life totally changed. She was sadly taken from us in May 2017 aged just seven years old, but her courage, strength and humour were incredible throughout all her treatment.” Eva’s mum Lauri shares their story.

Eva with her mum Lauri.

“Eva had just turned six when she started complaining of a sore hip. She also began walking with a limp and lost all her energy. We’d taken her to the GP already but took her back for another check. She had a scan for arthritis and later, an MRI scan on her legs, but the doctors didn’t find anything. Eva then had a series of blood tests. When another doctor came to check Eva and checked her tummy, he felt a lump in her abdomen. We were sent to the children’s hospital in Cardiff and our life was turned upside down.

“In February 2016, Eva was diagnosed with Stage 4 neuroblastoma - it had spread to her bones and bone marrow. Our life totally changed. 

“Eva loved life and she’s the love of my life. If she were here now, I know she would want to help other children in this situation. ”

Eva’s courage, strength and humour were incredible throughout all her treatment.

“Seeing other children on the ward was tough but the support from other families was invaluable. We were able to talk to other families, share experiences and comfort each other - and had five minute breaks from the craziness for a much-needed cuppa.

Eva responded well to the first round of chemo and seemed to really bounce back.  She was up and about, running around the ward and it really gave us hope.
We never gave up hope but we knew what we were facing.

“Eva was very aware of everything that was happening but we’d be careful with what we said in front of her. As she got older, she became even more switched on and would often tell the nurses how to give her medicine and what treatment she needed! Everyone loved her on the ward and she had such a good humour about everything. Eva really bonded with her nurse and we all did as much as we could to make her time in hospital easier. There were special events for Halloween and Christmas on the ward, we took her on a caravan trip and to Cadbury World. Even staying in the accommodation on the ward updates felt like a trip to a hotel and gave us a change of scenery.

“Hopefully in time, research will improve, treatment will be kinder, and more children will survive this hard to treat disease.”

Eva made everyone laugh on the ward.

“Eva was sadly taken from us in May 2017 aged just seven years old. Her courage, strength and humour were incredible throughout all her treatment. Eva made everyone laugh on the ward, even pretending to wash her hair when it had all fallen out.

She was so brave going back to school too, it’s amazing how the other kids didn’t really notice the difference in her appearance and they all just got on with it.

Eva loved life and she’s the love of my life. If she were here now, I know she would want to help other children in this situation.  Hopefully in time, research will improve, treatment will be kinder, and more children will survive this hard to treat disease.'“

Raising money in memory of Eva

Lauri and her supportive team of colleagues at Nevill Hall Hospital raised nearly £3000 for Neuroblastoma UK, in memory of Eva.

“As a team of 15, we came together through work thanks to my boss who organised it all! We were originally meant to trek Mount Snowdon in April, but due to lockdown, our plans changed. We decided to hike the Brecon Beacons instead on a beautiful sunny day. It was amazing. We hadn’t done any training due to social restrictions so hiking nine miles over very hilly terrain was a huge challenge for us all! We plodded on for five hours, taking in the beautiful scenery and remembering my beautiful daughter Eva.”

If you’d like to join Lauri and raise money for more vital research into neuroblastoma, there are lots of ways to get involved.