Hollie O'Brien

“Hollie was a wonderful, vibrant four-year old who wanted to get as much done as she possibly could every day of her short life.

It all started in early 2002. Hollie had a very bad attack of the chicken pox – you couldn’t put a pin between them. She never really regained full health after that, suffering from throat infections and sore lips.

We saw three doctors in the lead up to her diagnosis and still we did not know what was making Hollie so unwell.

The last outing Hollie ever had was on July 6, 2002. It was her auntie’s wedding and she was a bridesmaid and was thrilled with the ringlets she had had put in her hair for the occasion. She did her best to enjoy the day, but she was visibly tired and subdued.

Two days later her throat was swollen, her mouth blistered and she was generally very poorly. Hollie was taken to the doctor’s twice that week. On the first visit we were told she had a virus and on the second, Hollie’s mum, Debbie, insisted on a blood test. She was booked in for one two days later.

Two hours after the blood test Debbie, received a call from the doctor telling her to get Hollie to the hospital immediately because she had leukaemia. We were all devastated and in total shock.

Hollie was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia. We were told this was the better of the two kinds and that within two years she could be totally clear of the disease.

Over the following three weeks Hollie got progressively worse. The treatment was going wrong and hospital staff couldn’t understand why.

The blood test that confirmed Hollie’s leukaemia was taken on July 15. Hollie passed away on August 11, 2002, aged four years, seven months and 22 days.

She suffered two massive brain haemorrhages after having an allergic reaction to her chemotherapy which had resulted in all her organs closing down, one by one.

Just two months after having lost Hollie I had organised our first fundraising for the Hollie O’Brien Leukaemia Research Appeal. It was very hard, but I did it with the help of family and friends. We raised £2,770 and presented our cheque to the TV presenter Paul Hendy who accepted it on behalf of CHILDREN with LEUKAEMIA.

So many people have helped us. In February 2005 the International Mediums of Psychic Private Eyes on TV, Colin Fry and Tony Stockwell, donated one of their shows to Hollie’s charity. They gave us £12,000 and an extra £717 was collected in buckets as people were leaving. Colin and Tony have continued to support us. To date The Hollie O’Brien Leukaemia Research Appeal has donated over £27,000 to CHILDREN with LEUKAEMIA.

I continue to look for new ways of raising money in Hollie’s memory.”

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