"Sheffield Children’s is a cause so close to all our hearts"

Meet brother and sister Lewis and Darcey!

In 2014, when Darcey was six-years-old, an optician suspected she may have a brain tumour. Within 40 minutes of arriving at Sheffield Children’s, she had an MRI scan and was prepped for surgery to remove the tumour.

It was the size of a large orange and the operation lasted around eight hours. Darcey then spent the next 10 days in recovery, before going home just in time for Christmas.

Her brother Lewis recalls: “It was heart-breaking and something you can never fully understand until you experience it. Looking back, it seems like a blur.

“The care Darcey received was absolutely second to none and we were constantly reassured and kept informed throughout her time at Sheffield Children’s. Thank you isn’t enough to express how thankful we are as a family to all the staff.

Darcey, now 13, adds: “I was only six at the time, so I don’t remember all of it but the memories I have are all positive. In my follow-up scans since, my family and I have always been treated with a smile, everyone is always really lovely.

"I remember the surgeon to be the sweetest soul imaginable and I’d like to say a massive thank you to everyone involved in my care, without them I wouldn’t be here today.”

The fundraising in honour of Darcey to say thank you to our hospital began within weeks of her operation, with over £6,000 raised by parents, family and friends at her school with a six-mile walk.

Lewis continues: “Today, Darcey is thriving and she’s just selected her options for her GCSEs. She’s the brains of the family and we’re all really proud of her. She’s confident, funny and always sees the positives. She’s also never shy to talk about her operation and the care she received.”

Darcey adds: “I’m not sure about the brains of the family! But I will be forever grateful for the care I received at Sheffield Children’s and the opportunities it has given me.”

The fundraising effort in Darcey’s name continued last month with Lewis taking on the Manchester Half Marathon last month, raising a fantastic £240!

He adds: “Sheffield Children’s is a cause so close to all our hearts, we always try to support it. This was the first time I’ve ever signed up to a ‘proper run’ and although it was tough, it was really enjoyable at the same time.

"During the hard times, I thought about Darcey and what she went through, as well as everyone around me running for their own causes.

“Along the route, there were lots of children offering words of encouragement and high fives, which was hugely motivational given the Charity I’d chosen to run for. It got me quite emotional, and I had quite the lump in my throat.

"Thank you to everyone that's donated, every penny counts and especially in these hard times, for people to still be donating money is special to me.”

Darcey continues: “I honestly just thought he was running it. He then said he was thinking of me all the way around and explained he was raising money for Sheffield Children’s Hospital for me.

"I don’t think many people would do that and I didn’t want to show at the time how much it meant to me, but it really did mean everything so hopefully he knows that now.”

Thank you so much Lewis! Everyone at Sheffield Children’s also continues to wish Darcey all the best in the future.