Two-year-old tot too ill to play with friends or spend time with family this Christmas because their germs could kill her
Cancer treatments have weakened leukaemia sufferer Hazy Richardson's immune system and she'll spend Xmas in isolation
LITTLE Hazy Richardson will not be celebrating Christmas with all her relatives — because their germs could kill her.
The brave little girl has had two bone marrow transplants in an effort to save her life - but her immune system has been left severely compromised after gruelling treatments.
It means Hazy won’t be able to leave the house, play with friends or see her extended family on Christmas Day in an effort to shield her from germs.
She is just one of the hundreds of sick kids being supported by The Sun’s Campaign through our charity partner .
Hazy’s Mum Alice, 37, who also has two other children, Romy, four, and Wilbur, one, said: “The chemo Hazy’s had is very aggressive and toxic. Her body now has a reduced ability to be able to fight off germs because the treatment has destroyed her immune system.
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“She has been very sick. But we’re pleased to have her home for Christmas. At least now she’s home she’ll be able to enjoy a full Christmas dinner, including broccoli and sprouts, even if she can’t leave the house.”
Hazy was diagnosed with a rare form of leukaemia in September 2015, five months after suffering with fevers, lethargy and rashes.
Her parents Alice and Paddy, 38, an insurance broker, who live in Bishop Stortford, were told the only thing that could save her life was a bone marrow transplant.
Hazy spent three months in isolation at Great Ormond Street Hospital earlier this year, only for her to relapse and be told she needed another bone marrow transplant in September.
Alice said: “I physically shook when I was told she had relapsed.
“To go through isolation and a transplant once was hard enough. Knowing she had to go it again felt so desperately cruel and unfair.
“But Hazy was a little fighter. She didn’t once complain or even shout out when in pain. She is an inspiration to all of us.”
Every day in hospital Alice and Paddy had to disinfect themselves from top to bottom and wear extra clean clothes, just so they didn’t contaminate her.
She said: “Hazy kept herself occupied by playing with her stuffed animals - but mentally it was hard to cope with.
“We tried to stay positive. Paddy and I were devastated at the prospect of having our family split up over Christmas - Romy was asking when her little sister was coming home and I wanted our lives to return to relative normality for Wilbur who knew nothing apart from hospitals.”
But at the end of November, the Richardson family got the news they longed for - Hazy was going home.
Alice said: “We are thrilled to have Hazy home for Christmas and are hoping that, by keeping her in isolation at home over the next few weeks, she will get fitter and stronger and her transplant will be deemed a success.”
520 children die from cancer every year in the UK. More than 4,000 children are diagnosed with it and it is estimated that 350 families will get the news that their child has cancer this month.
We are urging you to donate cash to the campaign to help fund research to improve treatments for children with cancer, or give toys for sick kids.
The Smiles at Christmas campaign is also supporting , and .
Eddie O’Gorman, who set up Children with Cancer UK after the death of his son, Paul, 14, from leukaemia, said: “Paul would be so pleased with the publicity and the generous donations from The Sun’s readers. He would be very proud that so many people have contributed to such a good cause - it will make a big difference.”
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