A Mother's Agony: From Holiday Leg Aches to Losing Her Daughter to Leukaemia
In August 2024, Marie Fellows and her husband Dave faced every parent's worst nightmare when their 10-year-old daughter Larissa died suddenly from leukaemia, a tragedy that began with seemingly minor symptoms during a family holiday in the United States.
The Holiday That Turned Tragic
The family, including two teenage sons, was enjoying a trip to the West Coast when Larissa started experiencing intermittent sickness and headaches. A doctor initially attributed it to hormonal changes or the effects of heat and time zone differences, offering false reassurance.
They then flew to New York for a ten-day Caribbean cruise with friends. At a beach club the day before returning to New York, Larissa complained of feeling "a bit funny" and later said her legs were achy, requiring Dave to carry her back to the boat.
Rapid Descent into Crisis
That night, Larissa's condition deteriorated rapidly. She became delirious, hallucinating and singing loudly, then suffered a seizure after expressing love for her family. Rushed to the medical centre, she was placed in a medically-induced coma on a ventilator as doctors suspected a brain tumour and sped the boat to New York.
Upon arrival, a team of doctors rushed out to meet the ambulance, giving Marie hope. However, after a CT scan, they delivered the devastating news: there was nothing they could do. Larissa was covered in tubes, and neurological tests indicated she would never walk or talk again, at best only able to move her eyes.
A Heart-Wrenching Decision
As a family, including the sons, they unanimously decided to turn off Larissa's life support, playing "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" as she passed away almost instantly. The only solace was the clarity that there was no chance of recovery.
Aftermath and Advocacy
For weeks, the cause of death remained unexplained until a post-mortem revealed it was leukaemia, the most common childhood cancer. In the early weeks, the charity SUDC UK provided crucial support amidst bureaucratic challenges.
Inspired by a dream where Larissa urged her to help others, Marie founded The Larissa Foundation. This organization raises awareness and funds for bereavement services, children's hospitals, leukaemia research, and blood cancer support, channeling grief into positive action.
Moving Forward with Grief
The months after Larissa's death were a haze of sorrow, with the family taking turns to hold things together. The foundation has become a source of strength, keeping Larissa's memory alive and aiding others in similar situations.
Marie emphasizes the importance of saying Larissa's name and continuing to grow the foundation to honor her joyful spirit. While life remains incredibly hard, the family is slowly healing, driven by a mission to prevent such tragedies and support bereaved families.
