When he visited her in hospital, all she wanted for Christmas was to “ring the bell” marking the end of her treatment.
She is one of hundreds of kids in hospital with cancer who have been visited by Saint Nick and received gifts this festive season thanks to YOU backing the Sun on Sunday’s great Christmas Cards For Kids campaign.
We asked our young readers to create card designs.
Three were chosen for sale at Clintons stores — and the proceeds bought gifts for kids like Alessia, diagnosed in May with non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
She has had eight rounds of chemotherapy at Birmingham Children’s Hospital, but hopes next month to ring that bell.
Her mother, HR consultant Serena, 43, from Solihull, said Santa’s visit had been “magical”.
Our campaign funds will also help The Azaylia Foundation cancer charity set up by Safiyya Vorajee and ex-Coventry City footballer Ashley Cain after their daughter Azaylia died at eight months from leukaemia.
Safiyya returned to the Birmingham children’s hospital where Azaylia was treated to play Santa’s missus.
He was over the moon to meet Santa
Mum Leah
She visited Azaylia’s old room, now occupied by three-year-old cancer patient Kit Seymour-Oakes.
Mum Nikki, 46, an events manager from Warwickshire, who is battling breast cancer, said: “Santa was wonderful, it brought some normality.”
Others at the hospital were also thrilled by Father Christmas.
Noah Stevenson, ten, has both leukaemia and Down’s Syndrome, and mother Claire Brereton, 41, from Stoke-on-Trent, said: “Having Christmas on the ward has been so lovely.”
‘Liked his beard’
Archie Pugh, 11, of Solihull, who also has leukaemia, was amazed Father Christmas knew his name.
Mum Amy, 32, who works in the beauty industry, said: “Santa has brought happiness to the children, parents and hospital staff.”
Georgia Marshall, 11, had a brain tumour removed then complications left her unable to eat, talk or walk.
But just before meeting the Big Man, she managed a few steps. Her mum, NHS worker Victoria, 42, of Halesowen, West Mids, said: “Santa brought us such joy.”
Thank you to everyone who made this possible. Enzo loved seeing Santa
Dad James
Freya Davis, five, of Kidderminster, Worcs — on her fifth round of chemotherapy for brain cancer — chatted with Santa about his reindeer.
Mum Steph, 37, who works at Tesco, said: “I thank every reader that made this happen.”
At Sheffield Children’s Hospital, Charlotte-Rose Gregory, five, is in remission from kidney cancer — and met Saint Nick.
Mum Jess, 28, a nail technician from Doncaster, said: “It was magical.”
Archie Leverton, six, also at the Sheffield hospital, was diagnosed with cancer in September, and mum Leah, from Louth, Lincs, said: “He was over the moon to meet Santa.”
At Croydon University Hospital in South London, Amara Afflick-Gill, eight, got to ring the end-of-treatment bell with Santa.
Family and friends, including mum, clinical administrator Lynette, 46, were there as Amara said simply: “I am so excited.”
At the same hospital, Enzo Morley, nine, now in remission after twice beating leukaemia, had a hug for Father Christmas.
Dad James, 41, a builder from Croydon, said: “Thank you to everyone who made this possible.”
Anna Santos Oliveira, eight, diagnosed with cancer last May but now in remission, gave Santa a hug and said: “I liked his tummy, his beard, his hat.”
Mum Flora Larissa, 32, of Croydon, said: “She was very excited.”