Nothing Is Ever Certain

21st December 2025 – Sunday

Our dear friend Jo (Joanne Dolan) came to visit Maya. Her visit gave me and Terry the precious opportunity to step outside the hospital for some fresh air. Something so small, yet so vital. We are incredibly grateful.

Monday 22nd December

A visit from my nurse colleague and friend Kirsty Hurd, along with our friend Suzanne Pearce. They arrived with Christmas goodies and kindly treated me to lunch. At the same time, Jerome (son #1) and his girlfriend Sophie came to visit and spent quality time with Maya. Love filling the room from all directions.

23rd December 2025

Santa came to say hello to Maya! At first, I thought he was one of the Three Wise Men — his posh red suit was covered in gold chains. He chatted with Maya and gifted her the sweetest pink Jellycat bunny.

That night, Maya’s thermostat seemed to go haywire again. Her body temperature wouldn’t rise above 35.8°C. The Bair Hugger blanket was back on, and she was closely monitored as her heart rate dropped as low as 58 bpm. Another long, anxious night.

Wednesday 24th December – Christmas Eve

It’s all happening.

Tilt table standing — over 25 minutes!

And just at that moment, Maya’s best friend Charlie and his mum Kate arrived. Maya knew he was there. The magic in that moment was undeniable. Kate and Charlie read her stories, and Pet Therapy Teddy came to visit too.

Because of Maya’s low body temperature the night before, she was treated as a suspected sepsis case. Blood cultures, swabs, urine microscopy, stool samples, abdominal ultrasound, chest X-ray, thorax CT scan, and an echocardiogram were requested. Everything was completed except the echo.

Charlie and Kate came downstairs with us as Maya’s day nurse and I took her for her abdominal ultrasound and chest X-ray. Saying goodbye was emotional — Charlie comforted Maya as she became upset leaving Lion Ward, cubicle 9.

When we returned upstairs, Daddy Terry had arrived. Shortly after, the ward consultant and doctor explained that nothing so far suggested infection — but to be safe, Maya and I were taken urgently for a CT thorax before services closed for the day.

Amidst all this, we paused to take in the parcels that had arrived — tangible reminders that we are not alone.

That evening, Terry and I managed to get a Chinese takeaway delivered to the main hospital entrance. Finding tiny snippets of festive normality in the chaos of childhood cancer treatment.

Through it all, we are deeply thankful for the private messages, kind words, and thoughtful donations. Every gesture carries us.

Trying hard to find reasons to be merry, even when the world feels heavy.

“It’s not about pretending things are okay. It’s about finding light where you can.”

For those who wish to donate:

PayPal to dellanie_nash@yahoo.co.uk (as a gift)

Santander

D C Nash

Sort code 09-01-36

Account 4957 9984

Reference: Maya’s Journey

Thank you for holding Maya — and us — in your hearts