Special request

Operations manager, Andy Corr, has a special request for colleagues to send a Christmas card to a very brave three-year old girl, who is currently in hospital with cancer.

Lyla-Mae O’Rourke – the granddaughter of Andy’s good friend, Sue – was told by doctors earlier this year that she only had weeks to live, but thanks to the bravery of her 10-year-old sister, Leoni, she was able to start nursery in September.

Lyla-Mae was diagnosed with infant acute lymphoblastic leukaemia when she was just six months old after suffering a viral infection.

After having to immediately undergo chemotherapy sessions following her diagnosis, doctors concluded that she needed a bone marrow transplant. That’s when her sister bravely stepped in to help.

A stem cell bone marrow transplant takes a donor’s healthy blood-forming cells and puts them into the patient’s bloodstream, where they begin to grow and make healthy red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets - basically resetting the immune system.

Lyla-Mae is currently back in hospital for further treatment. ‘This is the third time that the disease has returned,’ said Andy. ‘Unfortunately, the bone marrow transplant Lyla-Mae received from her elder sibling, doesn’t seem to have worked and doctors are now trying other treatments.

‘Lyla-Mae will be in hospital all through the festive period and needs cheering up with some Christmas cards to decorate her room during her stay.’

Lyla’s mum, Jade, recently posted on Facebook: ‘Lyla-Mae will once again be in hospital over the Christmas period. As she is a year older and wiser, entertaining her gets a little harder while she is stuck in bed attached to lines.

‘I was wondering if anyone had a spare Christmas card and the price of a postage stamp so that she could look forward to getting her ‘post’ and then we could decorate the walls in her room and brighten it up for her.

‘She really would be excited to know so many people wanted to send a card to her. Your kindness is appreciated so much.’

If you would like to bring a little Christmas cheer to Lyla’s room, the address to send your cards to is:

Lyla-Mae O’Rourke
Stem Cell Unit
2nd floor
Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital
Oxford Road
Manchester
M13 9WL.

Click here to share Jade’s Facebook post.