Mother writes book to help children with cancer

A mother who wrote a book to help her toddler cope with losing her hair during cancer treatment is hoping that copies can be distributed to hospitals to help other children going through the same thing.

Holly, who used to live in Bristol but relocated to London, wrote Edie's Magic Hair about a young girl who has to regrow her hair in a last step to become a superhero.

The titular character was inspired by her four-year-old daughter Edie, who was diagnosed with a rare form of bone cancer last year. She is now in remission.

Holly says that because the book worked for her daughter, it could "have that same positive impact for children in and around her age going through exactly the same thing".

Holly said Edie had been "frightened" at the sight of her hair falling out so quickly after starting treatment.

She added the children's hospital where Edie was treated had some good distractions such as play areas, but nothing to distract from the physical impacts of chemotherapy.

Following Edie's successful treatment and remission, Holly launched a crowdfunder to support the production and distribution of the book to specialist paediatric cancer wards around the country.

She said: "The book was first and foremost for Edie in that moment. She needed something, she needed a vehicle, she needed a bridge to understand what was going on in a way that allowed her to escape."

She added she believed the story could "give hope" and "pride" to other children going through cancer treatment, just like it did for Edie.

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