Rainbow Trust dad shares his story

My little girl has cancer

An inspiring story of a father’s love Blog entries July 2012 - April 2013

My beautiful little girl, Adi

This is the saddest day of my life‌the day I found out my bubbly two year old daughter has cancer growing in her brain.

3 July 2012

Reality bites

Everything happens so fast, it is all a blur. But after a while reality hits. I find going to the hospital hard. As I walk around the ward I see children without hair, looking frail, connected to machines. I find it difficult to acknowledge that Adi is one of them.

20 July 2012

Photo by Christoph Soeder

Another night apart

My little boy slept, his father wept.

His mother tossed and turned, my little girl squirmed.

I cannot sleep. My wife and daughter are not at home, they are at the hospital again. Adi has to have surgery to remove the tumour. How do you tell a two year old you are going to have a very serious operation that could kill you, medicine that will make you sick and more injections that will make you scream with fear? But don’t worry it will be alright.

23 July 2012

Every day feels like Groundhog day

Each day is the same or at least very similar to the last. The chemotherapy drugs have lowered Adi’s immune system so we rarely get a break. She has to have daily injections so we need to be at home.

Drained, exhausted and hating every minute of this nightmare. But happy that Adi is doing ok.

4 August 2012

Not me, cried my little girl. Not me, I’m better now Adi has developed a big fear of needles. I’m not surprised, she has had to have so many injections. Every day the nurse comes to take her blood and Adi cries those words that penetrate my heart and soul; “Not me, I’m better now.”

If only she was.

8 August 2012

The bubble of hope burst

The hospital and consultants did their best but there was no good way to give us the news that Adi’s tumour was aggressive and, even though all but a tiny piece had been removed, they could still only give her a 35-50 percent chance of surviving the next five years. My heart sank, I physically shrank.

12 August 2012

I don’t want to lose my hair

Adi’s words that broke my heart. Adi has to have chemotherapy and is aware something scary is happening to her body. And yet she still manages to smile. An inspiration to us all.

14 August 2012

Brotherly love

Despite the craziness that has become our lives, it has made me treasure the little things. Tonight Asher, Adi’s brother, ran into her room, gave her the sweetest kiss and cuddle.

11 September 2012

Rainbow Trust helps us cope

Without Rainbow Trust life would be a fight and a struggle.

Alison, our Family Support Worker, is here whenever we need her. She helps with hospital appointments, school runs and is there to listen after a tough day. Simple things but her support gives me the hope that my family will get through this.

30 October 2012

Photo by Karen Zetter

The future

We live for the MRI scans, hoping that the results are clear.

We seize every moment of each day. Adi is developing like a normal little three year old. She is funny, bossy and determined. Her ability to argue with her brother is developing beautifully! In my heart I hope these antics will carry her, and my family, through.

April 2013

Many thanks to David, Adi’s dad for sharing his experiences in his own words and allowing Rainbow Trust to use his photos.

To read more about Adi, read the family’s blog ourlittlegirlhascancer.blogspot.co.uk.

Many thanks.

To donate, visit

rainbowtrust.org.uk/ourlittlegirlhascancer

rainbowtrust.org.uk Head Office: Rainbow Trust Children’s Charity, 6 Cleeve Court, Cleeve Road, Leatherhead, Surrey KT22 7UD. Tel: 01372 363438 Registered Charity No. 1070532. Registered in England No. 3585123