“We’ve been through a tough time, but Tori was always there to help us when we needed her; her help and support was only a phone call away. We want to say a big thank you to her, and to Rainbow Trust.” Tamba Jefang, Ayisha’s dad.
“It was a huge shock,” says Tamba. “We had no idea a baby could be born with cancer. We were told she had a neuroblastoma, and that she would need chemotherapy and an operation. It was hard to take in, and we had no idea how we would cope. I work long hours as a chef, neither of us drives, and we had two other small children.”
Family and friends helped look after Keisha, five and Kyron, three, while Kelly stayed in hospital with Ayisha for several weeks. It was there that Kelly and Tamba heard about Rainbow Trust and met Family Support Worker Tori. She was able to help the whole family through a difficult and frightening time. “Tori helped us in so many different ways,” says Tamba. “She’s a lovely person who got on really well with the children. When Ayisha came home, Tori would look after all three children so that Kelly could do some shopping or take a break.” She drove Kelly and Ayisha to hospital appointments, arriving at 5.30 in the morning to get them there on time and she would stay with Kelly and give her all the support she needed.
Ayisha is now nine months old and following surgery and four courses of chemotherapy, she is expected to make a full recovery.
