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Sophia is a bright, outgoing and determined little girl from Belfast. She is full of personality and has a cheeky smile that continues to shine through everything she has experienced.
Sophia loves Peppa Pig, Ms Rachel and spending time on her iPad. She also enjoys swimming through her daycare centre and attends the hospital hydrotherapy pool as part of her physiotherapy.
For her parents, James and Nicola, seeing Sophia’s personality return and watching her enjoy being a child again means everything.
Before her diagnosis, Sophia was a happy and healthy 16-month-old. She loved exploring, crawling around and playing with her older brother, Jayden. She was a good eater and had a smile that could light up a room.
One of the family’s favourite memories is a special trip to Disneyland Paris with Sophia and Jayden – memories that have become even more precious following everything the family has experienced.
However, for around five or six months before her diagnosis, Sophia began to change. She experienced persistent flu-like symptoms and a cough, became increasingly upset and cried much more than usual. Her parents also noticed that she was becoming very pale.
Sophia was taken to the GP several times and was diagnosed at different points with flu or a viral infection. Although the family were reassured, their parental instincts continued to tell them that something was not right.
She has been through more in her short life than any child should ever have to experience, yet she remains our cheeky, determined and outgoing little girl
On 16 June, Sophia became particularly unwell. She was extremely pale, coughing and would not stop crying.
James and Nicola took her back to their GP, wanting to ensure she was well enough before the family’s planned holiday to Spain. They were told that Sophia had tonsillitis and a viral infection and were given antibiotics.
The following morning, however, Sophia was taken to the children’s A&E department. Doctors quickly became concerned. Her heart rate reached 202 beats per minute and her temperature rose to 42.2°C. Numerous doctors carried out tests as they tried to establish what was happening.
Initially, there were concerns that Sophia could have meningitis after she developed a large purple rash across her chest.
Then came the words that changed the family’s lives:
“I’m so sorry. Sophia has a blood cancer.”
Sophia was transferred that night to the Children’s Cancer Unit. The following day, her parents were given the diagnosis: Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML).
Sophia’s treatment plan consisted of four intensive cycles of chemotherapy, with bone marrow aspirations following each cycle to determine whether the treatment was working.
Thankfully, the treatment was successful.
Sophia had a Hickman line, affectionately named “Mr Wiggly”, inserted into her chest. It was used to administer chemotherapy, medication and other treatments, as well as for blood tests.
She also needed a feeding tube when she became too unwell to eat independently.
Treatment was incredibly difficult. Sophia spent approximately seven months in hospital, with each intensive round of chemotherapy leaving her extremely unwell and vulnerable to complications.
She lost her hair and became highly sensitive to light. She experienced mucositis, bacterial infections and other complications as her immune system was severely weakened.
On one occasion, Sophia became so unwell that she was nearly transferred to intensive care.
During her treatment, she received approximately 16 blood transfusions and 17 bags of platelets, as well as undergoing numerous procedures and bone marrow aspirations.
For her parents, some of the most difficult moments were having to watch their little girl being taken for procedures and then walk away while she was put to sleep.
Yet throughout it all, Sophia continued to show extraordinary resilience.
For Sophia’s family, coping often meant taking each day as it came.
The family found comfort in familiar things that could make hospital life feel a little more normal. Sophia’s favourite programmes, Peppa Pig and Ms Rachel, along with her iPad, provided entertainment and comfort during long periods in hospital.
Her parents also drew strength from Sophia herself.
Even when she was exhausted, frightened or in pain, she would still find a way to smile. Her cheeky personality and ability to make her parents laugh during incredibly difficult moments became a source of strength for the whole family.
Sophia’s resilience reminded her parents that, even during the darkest days, there could still be moments of happiness.
Childhood cancer affects the whole family, and Sophia’s diagnosis changed everyday life for James, Nicola and their son, Jayden.
While Sophia was receiving treatment, Jayden was just starting Primary 1. His parents faced the incredibly difficult challenge of spending long periods in hospital with Sophia while ensuring that Jayden continued to feel loved, supported and cared for.
The family were also facing significant personal challenges away from Sophia’s treatment.
During Sophia’s journey, James’s dad was diagnosed with stomach cancer and sadly passed away in May 2026. Nicola’s parents have also experienced cancer diagnoses, with her dad receiving treatment for prostate cancer and her mum now doing well.
For the family, it has been an incredibly difficult period, with the trauma and uncertainty of childhood cancer taking place alongside other major family challenges.
Nicola has also been unable to return to work while caring for Sophia, attending hospital appointments and supporting her recovery.
Our biggest wish is for Sophia to continue growing stronger and for our family to have many more happy memories together.
When a child is diagnosed with cancer, a family’s world can quickly become centred around hospital appointments, chemotherapy, infections and constant worry.
Alongside the emotional impact, there can also be significant financial pressures.
James and Nicola reached out to My Shining Star because they knew that caring for Sophia and managing her ongoing treatment would have a financial impact on their family.
My Shining Star provided financial support at a time when the family really needed it.
For James and Nicola, that support meant more than simply financial assistance. At a time when their lives were dominated by hospital stays and concern for their daughter, knowing that an organisation understood what they were experiencing provided valuable practical support.
The family were also told about My Shining Star’s plans to support families at Christmas with Christmas boxes for children – something they described as an incredible initiative.
For families living through childhood cancer, practical and financial support can make an enormous difference during an already overwhelming time.
Having an organisation that understands what families are going through and provides practical and financial support means more than we can put into words
Today, Sophia is in remission and continues to attend hospital as an outpatient.
Every few weeks, she attends the haematology outpatient department for blood tests and appointments with her doctors and consultant. She also has additional follow-up appointments because of everything she has experienced.
Although life is slowly beginning to feel more normal, Sophia’s journey continues to have an impact on the family.
For now, the family’s hopes are simple: to watch Sophia grow stronger, make more memories together, see her enjoy time with her brother Jayden and, when the time comes, watch her start nursery.
Most importantly, they want Sophia to be able to enjoy simply being a child. After everything she has been through, Sophia continues to be exactly what her family calls her – their little shining star.
Your donation can help families like Sophia’s through the trauma of childhood cancer.