ISLA
At just three years old, Isla was fighting for her life.
A tumour in her chest had pushed her heart to the other side of her body. In an instant, Isla and her family's world turned upside down.
Cancer Comeback of the Month: Isla
At just three years old, Isla was fighting for her life.
A tumour in her chest had pushed her heart to the other side of her body. Her left lung had completely collapsed. Her organs were crushed, and she was surviving on just a third of her right lung.
Her mum, Hayley, knew something wasn’t right. Isla had become unusually tired and had stopped playing with friends. After several visits to A&E, a CT scan finally revealed the cause — a large tumour in her chest. She was diagnosed with the rare childhood cancer Pleural Pulmonary Blastoma.
In an instant, their world turned upside down.
“Everything changed,” Hayley recalls. “Life became a whirlwind of hospital appointments, medical terminology we had never heard before, and an overwhelming sense of uncertainty.”
During Isla’s treatment, the family received vital support from Young Lives vs Cancer.
One of the most important lifelines came in the form of accommodation at CLIC House — a “Home from Home” close to the hospital.
For families travelling long distances for specialist treatment, these homes make an enormous difference. Instead of worrying about hotel costs or being separated from their child, parents can stay nearby, focus on their child’s care, and find a small sense of stability during an incredibly frightening time.
“It meant we didn’t have to worry about hotels or extra expenses during such a difficult time,” Hayley said.
“That safe space close to the hospital gave us a little bit of peace when everything else felt so uncertain.”
Today, 23 years later, Isla is cancer-free and living life to the full.
She works full-time in the further education sector, lives with her boyfriend Jack, and loves taking her Berlingo camper van on outdoor adventures.
She’s even completed the London Marathon — a remarkable milestone for someone who once couldn’t even walk during treatment.
“To think that at one stage in my life I was unable to walk, and now I’ve walked 26.2 miles for myself and other cancer survivors – it’s something dreams are made of.”
Stories like Isla’s remind us why support services matter so much.
When a child is diagnosed with cancer, the impact reaches the entire family. Practical support — like somewhere safe to stay near the hospital — can remove a huge burden during the most difficult time of their lives.
That’s why the Coastal Commanders are rowing the Atlantic in support of Young Lives vs Cancer and Move Against Cancer.
Because families facing cancer shouldn’t have to face it alone.
And because every child like Isla deserves the chance to write their own comeback story.
