Here are some links to other websites dealing with childhood cancers and to the organisations which helped us during Helen's illness.

Neuroblastoma Society

The UK society which supports families affected by Neuroblastoma and helps to fund research into the disease.  We have been associated with them since 1999 and would recommend any family needing support to contact them. 

Great Ormond Street Hospital - GOSH

When Helen was first ill, following a scan at our local hospital she was immediately referred to GOSH.  At a very difficult time we were launched into a completely new world.  The staff at the hospital were excellent and helped Helen and the family to come to terms with the disease.  Within 48 hours of discovery of the tumour the doctors had narrowed down the disease to 2 possibilities, both with similar treatment options, but they also believed at this stage they knew what the formal diagnosis would reveal.  As a result within 2 days of the scan and a day of our arrival at GOSH Helen began chemotherapy.  She was 4 years and 2 months old.

CLIC - Sargent (formerly Sargent Cancer Care for Children)

Thanks to their reps at Great Ormond Street we always had someone to help with some of the practical difficulties outside of the medical staff.  They even arranged for the family to spend a week at their house in Prestwick in 2000 after Helen had finished most of her treatment.  Helen and her sister enjoyed the freedom to explore the house and enjoyed the days out using the house as a base.  Helen even managed to go ice skating at the nearby rink.  A holiday at this time without Sargent would not have been possible.

Middlesex Hospital - part of UCLH

Helen was in and out of the radiology unit during 2002/3 when she relapsed.  Referred from Great Ormond Street she had great continuity of care and loved seeing the play specialist, who supported the whole family during these difficult times.  The radiology staff were fantastic with Helen who was often in pain during assessments and couldn't lay down for long during the initial stages.

Queen Elizabeth II Hospital

QEII is our local hospital who initially ran the scan to find the tumour,  they were to become our "Shared Care" hospital with GOSH.  After initial treatment at GOSH we were referred back to the care of our local Community Team who became one of the main contacts for the next 5 years.  The team got to know Helen, with all her likes and dislikes, and had to cope with her telling them how she wanted her central line looked after or her blood tests done.  She would even tell them if they did it wrong!