Girl 11 battling leukaemia does kind deed for children on ward

An 11-year-old girl battling leukaemia has done a kind deed to help cheer other children up on her ward.

Tallulah Ferns, from Moston, Manchester, was diagnosed with leukaemia in April and is currently receiving treatment in hospital. While undergoing chemotherapy on Ward 86 at Manchester Royal Children’s Hospital, she really wanted to have a comfort blanket or cushion with her, but couldn’t for hygiene reasons.

Tallulah got a Squishmallow — a popular soft toy — which she can hug while in the hospital bed, bringing her some comfort while feeling unwell.

The Failsworth High pupil then had an idea, she wanted to bring some joy to the other children who are also being treated on her ward — which specialises in caring for those with cancer, leukaemia, and non-malignant hematologic disorders.

So she set about setting up a Go Fund Me Page, and in two days raised £1,000. She spent the money buying 46 Squishmellow soft toys which she then gave out to youngsters on the ward — as reported in The Manchester Evening News.

Her mum, Joanna Heap, said: “It was lovely to see the reaction of the children when they received one. One little girl had just come back from treatment at The Christie and we placed one on her bed — it was wonderful to watch Tallulah give them out.

“Tallulah was diagnosed in April. She had one course of chemotherapy but it didn’t work. She has now started her second.

“If that does not work she will have to have a bone marrow transplant but she is bearing up well. Her hair is starting to come out and her skin has puffed up a bit because of the steroids — yet she did this.

“As well as giving the toys to other patients she gave some to their brothers and sisters who were visiting. Some have been stored too for other children – new patients.

“She had the idea when she wanted to bring a quilt or cushion from home to the hospital while she was being treated. A comfort thing really. But because of hygiene reasons she couldn’t — and so she got a Squishmallow — and then got more for other kids.”

On Tallulah’s fundraising page, she wrote: “Hi my name is Tallulah, I’m 11 years old and am currently in hospital being treated for leukaemia. While I have been in hospital I have had a lot of procedures and been in bed a lot recovering but the thing that has helped me through this is my Squishmallows teddy bear.

“I would love to raise money for the other children in my ward — ward 86 — to get them their own Squishmallows to hug while they are going through a difficult time. I would like to raise £1000 to help me make other children happy. Love, Tallulah.”

Joanna added: “If the latest chemotherapy works it will still be a course of treatment over two and a half years. If Talullah needs a bone marrow transplant she will have to spend six weeks in isolation and have months of treatment.

“But we are positive and when she is better Talullah wants to see the Northern Lights in Norway and go whale watching there.”