Meet Isla & Chemo Duck!
The Give A Duck Foundation are proud to share Isla’s story as part of the ‘Give A Duck this Christmas’ appeal, highlighting the incredible impact and amazing support Chemo Duck provides to children with cancer…
“Isla was age four when she was diagnosed with stage one high risk Wilms tumour on her left kidney. Isla was introduced to Chemo Duck by a play specialist in St. George’s Hospital when she had a full nephrectomy (kidney removal) of her left kidney along with the tumour.
Chemo Duck comes with us to every hospital visit and he’s been through every procedure with Isla including MRI’s, the insertion of her port-a-cath and her operation to remove the cancer aswell as any times we’ve been admitted into our local hospital with a fever.
Isla is a cheeky feisty energetic four year old. She was born with a chromosome 9q deletion and has Gorlin Syndrome which has meant she had global development delay, is non verbal and has been late learning to walk (she currently uses a walker or cruises around furniture). Chemo Duck has helped Isla stay calm during recovery at hospital and is a constant companion. Because he has his own port-a-cath (wiggly) we have been able to teach Isla through play about port access and administering medication. This has not only helped Isla but helped us as a family as she is calmer and happier during procedures as she now understands more about what is happening to her as we have been practicing beforehand on Chemo Duck.
Chemo Duck has become a big part of Isla’s journey however we are yet to name him, he is definitely a boy but in our house he is still affectionately known as Chemo Duck. We are so grateful for our Chemo Duck and the help he has given our family, especially little miss Isla.” Gemma, mum
Every week around 30 children in the UK are diagnosed with cancer. The Give A Duck Foundation provide Chemo Ducks to children with cancer and Huggable Hope ducks for their siblings.
Could you help Give A Duck continue to support families facing childhood cancer?
You can make a difference this Christmas.
Just £25 could fund a Chemo Duck for a child with cancer. Any amount you can give, no matter how small, will help The Give A Duck Foundation continue to provide Chemo Ducks and Huggable Hope ducks to families facing childhood cancer throughout the UK.