Watch Raining in my Heart
on ITV
Wednesday 15th April
at 22.35hrs
HHHFFFAS! Sophie Ryan-Palmer
Sophie (11), Fabian (11) and Chloe (3) are going through an ordeal no child should have to suffer. Their lives are on the line, and their only hope of living through the challenges of the coming months is to become some of the first children in the world to go through experimental treatment at Great Ormond Street Hospital.
A diagnosis of childhood cancer is every parent’s worst nightmare, but the children’s outlook is in turns brave, funny and humbling. Their indomitable spirit shines through at even the worst of times, and Sophie’s motto of “Happy happy happy, fun fun fun, and always smile” typifies the attitude of these inspiring kids.
As Cassia (14) says of her little brother Fabian, who is battling high risk leukaemia, “He’s had to learn some pretty adult stuff being in hospital and going through things that none of his friends will ever understand. I think it’s made him a stronger person, definitely.”.”
When a child has cancer, each day is very precious. Filmed over 2 years, by the BAFTA winning, Brian Woods, and film-maker, Jess Stevenson, this is a story, rich in humour and hope, of young lives lived to the full in the face of a deadly disease.
Sophie's journey began 2 days before Christmas 2002 (Soph 2 1/2) when she was diagnosed with ALL Leukeamia for the first time. Sophie spent christmas day in hospital. She was given the all clear in March 2006, huge celebration.
Unfortunately a couple of weeks before her 6th Birthday she was rediagnosed with ALL Leukeamia once again so Sophie had another gruelling 2 1/2 years of chemo ahead of her. We were given the all clear June 2009. HOORAY again.
Sadly 10th June 2011 bad news strikes again, Sophie's Leukeamia has come back, we have 5 weeks of intensive chemo, another 4 weeks of further chemo and Sophie needed a bone marrow transplant. At that time it is unsure whether a bone marrow match could be found.
Thankfully a match was found and Sophie went into hospital in December 2011, to commence treatment for a bone marrow transplant, requiring 2 months isolation at Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH). The process was rather grueling, with Sophie ending up in ICU at one point, but we got through it with lots of tears, pain and laughter along the way!!!
Sophie returned home, still poorly, but would always remain positive. She kept being sick, but I continued to make her laugh and she carried on smiling, despite it all! We found a nice pink sick bucket (courtesy of Helen) and we drew a happy face at the bottom, so every time Sophie had her head in the bucket she had a smiley face to look at.
All was going well she won an award at the Spelthorne Council for Triumph Over Adversity and I was so proud of her when she went up on stage to collect it.
Sophie has appeared in Take A Break, been on ITV News after going on Dreamflights, which is an amazing charity.
After Sophie's recovery from her bone marrow transplant, she started secondary school in 2012, a fresh start we thought. Sophie's hair was very short at the time and she did have a few issues with people who didn't know her in the beginning. Like the time a boy showed her where the boys changing rooms were when she was waiting for her friends outside the girls changing rooms, she knew he was only being kind and did not have the heart to tell him that she was a girl so she said 'OK THANKS!!!!' It still brings a smile to my face, that boy is probably still clueless about his mistake. Sophie said he was so nice she had not wanted to embarrass him! LOL!!!!
In Sophie's words 'the silly cells' came back in October 2012. At the time, we told ourselves we would not let this defeat us and we would fight to the bitter end. Sophie desperately wanted a new dog, so we got a new addition to the family shortly after re-diagnosis and what better name to call him than Happy!!!!!
We received great supports and good wishes from friends and family both in person and through SSS Support Super Sophie Facebook page. Sophie wasn't always able to reply but she read every post and this really helped her get through some terrible times.
We continued to fight every inch of the way all the while remembering Sophie's favourite motto, Happy, Happy, Happy, Fun, Fun, Fun, Always Smile!
Sophie's determination shone through and she was still making jokes 2 days before lapsing into a coma. Sophie clung on to life till the bitter end, she did not give up, her body did.
Sadly Sophie's journey ended when she lost her battle on the 17th July 2013.
She took her last breath cuggling with Mummy, Blankie and Rabbit. I will always be so proud of my beautiful inspirational A-Z Princess.
Sophie Ryan Palmer
- Born 11th February 2001
- Sadly left us on 17th July 2013
A Much loved
Daughter
Sister
Grandaughter
Niece
Cousin & Friend xxx
Sophie and I on many occasions spoke about getting a pink convertible in our good old girlie chats which I will treasure forever. I have now ticked it of my list, with an extra of course, added to the back, HHHFFFAS! I have done this in memory of my beautiful a to z inspirational princess, gone but never forgotten!! A big Thank you to Media Fleet for wrapping it in pink for me!
