The Hollie Taylor Fund

The Hollie Taylor Fund at CCLG is raising funds to support research into malignant rhabdoid tumours.

"Our daughter Hollie was diagnosed with cancer on 5th Oct 2013, the histology returned the exact diagnosis of a Malignant Rhabdoid Tumour (MRT), her treatment, which consisted of Chemo, Surgery & Radiotherapy ended on 3rd July 2014 and happy normality ensued; with MRI scans scheduled for Oct 14 and Jan 15. 

The Happy New Year scan, showed a disgustingly, devastatingly unhappy growth of Hollie's tumour and her prognosis was deemed to be terminal; with quality of life being the agenda we began packing a lifetime of experiences into an unspecified period of 'not a long time'; including visiting Disney Princesses numerous times, Peppa Pig and some amazing days & nights out with friends and family.

However, Hollie had other plans....on the 10th Sept we got the results of her August MRI scan, which proved that she really is 'Vicki' the 'Small Wonder' (google it!), because the tumour, which had doubled in size again (May) since January, had now SHRUNK by 28%. There is no medical or rational explanation for the Why's, Hollie has been off all treatment and medication since July 2014.

Hollie’s latest MRI on 7^th March has again miraculously shown that the tumour has shrunk again!  But not only this, when we asked whether there is a chance, however small, that the mass is no longer malignant, the medical response was that there is a good chance that we may now be looking at cells that are either dormant/inactive or possibly scar cells/tissue; as it certainly isn’t acting in a ‘normal’ cancerous manner.  So onward and upward with extreme delight and now Hollie can remove the ‘terminal’ hat and we can relax a little more. 

So Hollie is very busy being 'normal', getting bigger, stronger, funnier, cheekier, more confident and making lots of new friends at nursery; she is now a big 4 years old and looking forward to all the rest that will follow. 

Malignant rhabdoid tumours are one of the most aggressive and lethal childhood tumours known. They are rare, accounting for just 1% of all childhood tumours, but they are deadly and highly aggressive.  Survival is poor, with an 18-month survival rate of less than 20%, and almost all patients succumbing before 5 years, post diagnosis.

We can't stop families from facing the devastation of their child being diagnosed with a Malignant Rhabdoid Tumour; but we can work towards raising critical funds for vital research; thus ensuring a more certain treatment protocol and a less uncertain future for children, like Hollie, and their families."

Elaine, Hollie's Mum.