Heartbreaking photos taken just two weeks apart show the toll that chemotherapy is taking on a young girl.
Poppy Dixon, aged four, is facing her second battle against leukaemia in less than a year, and is desperately in need of a bone marrow donor.
The brave youngster was initially diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in June 2020, and finished her treatment back in September.
Last month, her parents started to notice some unusual bruising on her legs, prompting them to take her to Royal Cornwall Hospital.
She was later transferred to Bristol Children's Hospital, where medics tragically confirmed that she had relapsed, and that the blood cancer had taken form in a rarer, harder to treat type of leukaemia.
Poppy has since endured 10 days of intense chemotherapy, which has left her needing several blood transfusions and IV antibiotics to treat infections.
To give an idea of the side effects, her dad Pete shared two side-by-side photos taken before and after treatment.
He wrote: "Firstly, we just like to express how grateful we are to everyone who has reached out and offered support.
"The level of support and kindness towards us has been utterly overwhelming and on behalf our family I cannot say thank you enough.
"Unfortunately, in regards of finding a bone marrow donor we discovered that Poppy's brother Oliver is not a match. However, they are still searching globally for a donor that is currently on the register.
"As previously mentioned, Poppy recieved 10 days of intense chemotherapy, which has resulted in Poppy needing multiple blood transfusions and IV antibiotics to treat infections.
"To give you an idea of how intense the chemo has been, these photos were taken exactly 2 weeks apart.
"If you haven't signed up on the bone marrow register, do it now. You can literally save a child's life."
A GoFundMe has also been set up to help towards the extra costs of travel and living in Bristol, where Poppy is having her treatment, until the end of the year.
A description shared on behalf of Poppy's dad read: "There's no other way of saying this but this will be Poppy's last chance of survival.
"Words can't describe what we are feeling right now. Our little world has been shattered once again and we apologise if we do not reply to messages as of yet.
"It's so important children like Poppy have the opportunity of a bone marrow transplant as it is truly their last chance."
In an update on May 1, the fundraiser's creator said that Poppy has become unwell due to the severe side effects of chemotherapy.
It said: "Poppy received intense chemo, 3 times a day for 10 days, and during this time she was very well in herself and full of her larger than life personality.
"She has now started to become quite well unwell as the side effects of the chemo have hit. She now has her food and medication through a feeding tube, has started loosing her hair, vomiting and spiking temperatures.
"Her Chemo will restart in 4 weeks and then hopefully they will have found a bone marrow donor.
"Oliver (Poppy’s brother) has had his tests to see whether he can be a donor but he isn’t a match so please if you haven’t already, please sign up to be a donor."
You can donate to the GoFundMe, which has raised over £10,700 at the time of writing, here.
