A nine-year-old girl from County Durham tragically passed away just 24 hours after being diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of cancer. Millie Rose Hedley, described by her mother Kimberley Hedley as a “beautiful, loving and kind-hearted” child, succumbed to acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) on December 22 last year.
Diagnosis and Rapid Decline
Millie had been experiencing symptoms including bone pain and extreme tiredness for a year prior to her death. Her mother recalled that Millie often became ill quickly and was so weak that she had to be carried partway to a doctor’s appointment shortly before her passing. Initially thought to have flu, Millie’s condition worsened, and she was taken to hospital after vomiting and being unable to keep fluids down. At A&E, doctors delivered the devastating news that she had cancer. Despite being transferred to a specialist hospital by a children’s intensive care transport team, her condition deteriorated, and she died less than a day after diagnosis.
Family's Tribute and Fundraising
Kimberley, 30, of Newton Aycliffe, said: “She was diagnosed and gone within 24 hours.” The family is now fundraising to thank the nurses who cared for Millie at Newcastle's Great North Hospital. In September, they will drive from Newton Aycliffe to Benidorm and back, with the car decorated to collect donations and messages of support. Millie’s family described her as a girl who “filled every room with joy and energy,” with a love for singing, dancing, and dinosaurs. She dreamed of becoming a “singing, princess archaeologist” and shared a close bond with her sister Makayla, 11.
Awareness of AML Symptoms
The family wants to raise awareness of the tell-tale signs of acute myeloid leukaemia, which include looking pale, tiredness, breathlessness, weight loss, and joint pain. Doctors noted the difficulty in diagnosing AML due to its rapid progression. A celebration of Millie’s life was held in February, attended by friends, loved ones, and teachers.
