When five-year-old Betsy developed an ear infection accompanied by stomach pain and a fever, her doctor initially attributed her symptoms to a virus. However, Betsy’s mother, Charlotte, felt that something was seriously wrong.
After taking Betsy to the emergency room for stomach pain and suspecting a food intolerance, Charlotte began researching her daughter’s symptoms. She approached her doctor again, this time suggesting the possibility of leukemia, which prompted them to conduct blood tests.
“I was desperate… it was pure panic. I knew something was wrong,” Charlotte recalled. “She was fatigued, her personality had changed; she didn’t want to play with her friends or even her sister anymore.”
Just days after the blood tests, in February 2023, Charlotte received a phone call requesting that she bring Betsy to the Princess of Wales Hospital in Bridgend for the results. “I couldn’t speak during that drive. Panic set in, and I remember shaking uncontrollably until we arrived,” she said.
With her husband, Christian, away working, Charlotte and Betsy entered the room where they received the news she’d been dreading. “I had that gut feeling, but when they confirmed it was leukemia, it hit me like a bus,” Charlotte shared. “I was numb… I just stood there, holding onto the bed, unable to speak. Everything went silent.”
Betsy was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and was promptly admitted to Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospital for Wales in Cardiff. There, a play therapist helped her understand the diagnosis in a kid-friendly way, and chemotherapy treatment began within two days.
“The treatment for leukemia is long and extremely tough, especially the first six weeks,” Charlotte explained. “They’re given steroids that dramatically alter their personalities and physical appearance, which we were unprepared for.” Betsy chimed in, laughing, “I was really fat!” to which Charlotte responded, “She was very, very poorly.”
Since the diagnosis, the family described their lives as a “rollercoaster of emotions.” Just six weeks into Betsy’s treatment, Christian’s racehorse, Kitty’s Light, won the Scottish Grand National, bringing a ray of happiness during a challenging time. “Kitty’s Light arrived at just the right moment for us,” Charlotte said, sitting outside the stables in Ogmore-by-Sea with Betsy on her lap.
Reflecting on that race day, Charlotte admitted, “We were having a particularly rough time with Betsy at home and I wasn’t even interested in watching, but my mother and mother-in-law urged me to turn it on so Betsy could see her dad on TV.” What followed was an emotional rollercoaster as Kitty’s Light took the lead. “I was jumping around after the first fence! It was so emotional,” Charlotte remembered.
Betsy chimed in, “All I remember is mum screaming. I had a headache, and that made it worse.” Charlotte laughed and apologized, “I’m sorry, sweetie!”
That win provided the family with much-needed relief and optimism, transforming their outlook. “It gave us a boost, a reminder that things can and will get better,” Charlotte said. “It changed everything for us and gave us something to look forward to.”
Now, while Betsy continues her fight against leukemia, Charlotte reflects on the strength she’s discovered within herself. “You adapt because you have no choice,” she shared. “At first, I faltered a bit, but it’s been about finding the positives each day that keep me going. The support from family, friends, and the horse racing community has been incredible.”
Connecting with other families battling similar struggles at Noah’s Ark has fostered lasting friendships. “These bonds will probably last a lifetime,” Charlotte affirmed. “We’re truly lucky to have found such a supportive network.”
As Betsy and her sister Tilly engage in play therapy to process the ongoing challenges, the family remains hopeful and united in their fight against this disease.
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