23 Dec 2024

A mother’s hope – Hannah’s story

One of the most emotionally difficult side-effects of leukaemia treatment in younger people can be infertility. Hannah Moore was just two and a half when she was diagnosed with this type of blood cancer. As she recovered from the disease and grew into a teenager, Hannah had one ambition – to be a mum. She was devastated when she found out that her treatment as a little girl might have shattered her dream. Hannah’s symptoms began in September 1998 when the two-and-a-half-year-old started to feel lethargic. 

“I remember telling my grandad I wasn’t able to walk up the stairs in his house,” said Hannah, 28, from Guildford in Surrey. 

“She was very pale and also had bruising and bleeding gums,” said Hannah’s mum Dawn Wilkins, 58, who lives near her daughter in Great Bookham. “We went to the doctor numerous times only to be told she had a bug or was under the weather. Eventually we got sent to Epsom Hospital where they did a blood test. They found her red blood count was so low she had to have two immediate blood transfusions. They said they still weren’t 100% sure what it was, but it could be the ‘big C’. When they said that I was distraught.”

Hannah was sent to the Royal Marsden Hospital in Sutton where she had a lumbar puncture and bone marrow tests. On October 22nd 1998, Dawn received the shattering news that her daughter had acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL). Her treatment began immediately. 

“I was terrified and felt completely out of control,” said Dawn. “My world had fallen apart as the most important person in my life was so dreadfully poorly, I couldn’t do anything to help her, and she was so young. It was the most frightening time in my entire life.

“We lived at the Marsden for a week or two where Hannah started oral and intravenous chemotherapy and steroids. The treatment for poor Hannah was not pleasant and being so young she couldn’t understand why we were ‘hurting’ her. For me it was so difficult knowing the treatments were painful. It was hard trying to keep a happy face and have playtimes when all you want to do is fall apart but you know that you can’t do that in front of her. She was very brave though and I was lucky enough to have wonderful parents who came to visit a lot which really helped Hannah and I.”

Hannah was diagnosed when she was a young child

“I thankfully don’t have many memories of that time,” said Hannah. “What has stayed with me is the fun I had in the children’s area, the games, and the nice nurses. I remember being upset that I couldn’t play with other children because of the risk of infection. We had to book a slot in the hospital when I was allowed to go and play with others there but, most of the time, I was by myself. I remember a few of the times going for my lumbar punctures and blood tests. I also remember the time when I was having nasty injections. I remember them hurting so much.”

“About six months after our first stay at that Marsden we did another two-week stay with more chemotherapy,” said Dawn. “Then we had six weeks of going every other day for treatment. After that there were spells in Epsom Hospital when Hannah was neutropenic and needed to be in isolation. At home, I gave her chemo every day and the nurse came round once a week to check her blood count and, depending on that, the dosage I was giving her could change. I had to give up my job to care for her.”

Fortunately, Hannah went into remission after two years of chemotherapy, but the family dealt with the effects of the illness and treatment for a long time afterwards. Hannah developed weak and painful legs and found it hard to walk – probably a side effect of chemotherapy – and had to use a wheelchair. She also had frequent headaches, which concerned her doctors that her leukaemia had returned, she took time off school for treatment for frequent infections and many trips back to the hospital. But her leukaemia never returned, and Hannah was eventually able to move on with her life.

“I still had regular check-ups until I was 18,” said Hannah “I found those appointments quite hard because every time I went it was a reminder of the leukaemia and it made me realise that it never truly leaves you. When I was 18, I was excited for my last appointment on the children’s ward, but it ended up being very emotional. They sat me down and said they needed to explain how this cancer and the drug treatment could have long-term effects. They said that some of the drugs could affect my heart later in life which is why I need to have tests every five years. They also said it was very unlikely I would be able to have children, and it was probable I would have early menopause. 

“This hit me so hard. Mum and I just cried. By that time all I knew was I wanted to be a mum. I don’t know whether it’s because I was an only child and mum was a single parent, but it was the one thing that I was certain about. And now I was being told it might never happen. I thought how could something that happened such a long time before and we’d worked so hard at to put in the past now come back to me.”

The diagnosis has had a huge impact on Hannah and mother Dawn, but they are full of hope for the future

In 2017 when she was 21 Hannah met her now-husband Carl and explained to him that she may never be able to have a family – but that because of that, she wanted to start trying as soon as she could.

“He was ten years older than me which I think was important as he was also ready to start trying. But I’d also been developing my career at the same time. I’d always loved animals, so I’d got an apprenticeship in veterinary nursing. Then I decided to have an adventure and went to work as a vet nurse in Hong Kong. I met Carl just before I left, and he flew back and forth to see me. But after six months I decided to come home and be with him. Six months later I was pregnant!”

Daughter Nancy was born in 2018, followed by son Grayson in 2021 and little boy Cody in 2024. 

“They were all completely normal pregnancies and babies, although the consultants did keep a close eye on me throughout. It was such an amazing feeling when I had Nancy, I was so relieved. I would have been heartbroken if I hadn’t been able to have them.”

Hannah now enjoys her role as a veterinary practice receptionist in Guildford alongside nurturing her miracle family.

“Even now I do tend to pick up every bug going and anytime I get poorly the doctors always do a full blood count as a precaution,” said Hannah, now 28.

“As her mum, I am constantly worried of any relapse or anything else resurfacing because of her illness,” said Dawn. “It has had a huge impact on our lives. I don’t think you ever get over the fear. It was a long time ago so now it isn’t the most prominent and foremost thing in mind. But although we try not to let it control us, we are both always on high alert for anything that comes out of the ordinary or any symptoms that she may have. My hope is that Hannah stays happy and healthy and has a very long life. She has three wonderful children and a loving husband and is full of love, life and happiness.”

“For the future I want to be the best mother that I can be for my children,” said Hannah. “I’ve also committed to giving back to those who helped me. Every year I take part in the Marsden March to raise money for the hospital which made me better. I was hoping that this year to take on a bigger challenge but the plans all changed when I found out I was pregnant with my son. Cody joined me on the 15 mile walk and at three and a half months was the youngest baby to take part on the day!”

Hannah fulfilled her dreams of being a mother, and now has three beautiful with a loving husband