A THREE-YEAR-OLD girl from Newton St Cyres has finished her treatment for leukaemia. 

Sophia Windsor rang the bell on the children’s ward at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital this month to mark the end of more than two years of cancer treatment. 

She first became ill in May 2022, and was diagnosed with leukaemia three months later when she was just 15 months old. 

“I was at the hospital by myself with Sophia,” her mother Serann Quinlan said. 

“I had to phone [her father] Jason and tell him that his daughter had cancer. It was awful.”  

Sophia was initially treated at Bristol Children’s Hospital before being transferred back to the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital. 

But she became more ill, contracting sickness and diarrhoea, pneumonia and eventually sepsis, and dangerously low potassium levels almost led to heart failure.  

She was quickly sent back Bristol, where she went into intensive care.  

“Looking back the diagnosis was a breeze compared to what happened later,” Ms Quinlan continued.  

“I had to leave her while she was in ITU. It was heartbreaking because we’d never spent a night apart.” 

Eventually, Sophia’s condition improved enough for her to be able to start chemotherapy.  

Three months after being admitted to Bristol, she returned home to Devon, continuing her treatment at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital on Bramble ward. 

The Exeter Leukaemia Fund (ELF) supported Sophia and her family throughout her illness. 

She is the youngest person the charity has ever helped. 

“It’s hard to explain what they mean to me,” Ms Quinlan said. 

“They and all the medical team have become like family. They are so good at what they do, and so good with Sophia. 

“I don’t drive, so used their transport services. They’ve helped us out financially and we have had two grants from ELF, who also bought the children Christmas presents. 

“I have used ELF’s counselling service which was so helpful. I talked about how Sophia’s diagnosis was affecting me personally. I had questions going through my mind and they helped me try and process it all.  

“As long as they will have us, we will be part of the ELF family, until she’s grown.  

“They do so much – it’s an amazing and beautiful thing, because they help keep you together while you’re going through such a difficult experience.” 

ELF’s medical team will continue to monitor Sophia until she is 16 years old, and the charity is still supporting her family. 

Molly Southwood, CEO of ELF, said: “Sophia’s situation really moved us all, and we are so happy to see the happy, healthy little girl she is today. 

“Sadly, there are so many families in similar situations. ELF aims to be there for every patient in Devon going through blood cancer and helped over 300 families last year alone.  

“We are so grateful to everyone in the local community who supports us and enables us to provide our vital services.” 

If you would like to donate to ELF, visit: elfcharity.org.uk/donate.