Tempsford teenager with rare cancer issues emotional plea for operation donation funds

Brave Holly Barker, 19, found out after the Christmas holidays that she had Fibrolamellar, a rare type of cancer that usually occurs in adolescents and young adults who have no history of liver disease.

Holly’s family are now pinning their hopes on a £250,000 operation in America, after UK doctors deemed the procedure too risky, and are appealing to Chronicle country to help save her life.

Holly said: “In my head I had prepared for the worst, but I stayed positive about it. I expected it to be cancer but I didn’t expect it to be this rare.

“I just don’t want to die, I don’t want to die at my age. I’m supposed to be living life, going out clubbing, going on holiday, not sat in bed being ill.

“I just want people to stop and think what they would do if someone they loved had cancer. I wouldn’t be surprised if someone had had friends or family who had died from it; please if it’s just one or two pounds it will make a difference.”

Holly had been working towards a degree in English Literature and Creative Writing and was looking forward to the next module when she developed worrying symptoms.

Last May, she started vomiting regularly and lost her appetite slightly, and after a series of tests she was referred to a neurologist at Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge.

Unfortunately, a CT scan couldn’t rule out cancer, and Holly decided to enjoy a family holiday to Tenerife for Christmas before returning home to have a biopsy that revealed the devastating news.

Fighting back her tears, Holly’s mum, Hayley, told the Chronicle: “I’m just doing my best for my daughter and I can’t focus on anything else. I have tried to get in touch with so many people, but the media don’t want to know; it’s all COVID-19.

“This is someone’s life, it’s really hard. It’s not like a playground that needs upgrading or a book shop that’s closing.

“If people could spare one pound or £5 to help save a person’s life... she’s a good kid and she doesn’t deserve this. She’s been through so much already.”

Indeed, Holly’s road to adulthood wasn’t an easy one. Born in 2000, she started having seizures at nine months old, before an MRI scan, when she was two, revealed a large cyst in her brain known as Porencephaly.

The rare disorder would have stopped Holly’s brain growing properly when she was in the womb. At age six, she was diagnosed with having Aspergers and ADHD and, later, as having no peripheral vision to the left side, mild learning difficulties and extremely poor memory recall. Then, in 2012, Holly was hit by a van which caused her to lose all her peripheral vision.

And as if all these hurdles weren’t enough, the courageous teenager lost her father in 2016, which caused her to be unable to sleep for fear of dying, while in 2018 she was diagnosed with non-epileptic seizures (caused by stress) and withdrawn from college.

Hayley added: “As you can imagine, Holly is already used to fighting. This is what saddens me. She is super brave and amazing and worries more about me, her little sister and everyone else in her life.

“This diagnosis has come as a complete shock; I felt Holly had been dealt her cards, but there’s further battles for her to fight.”

Holly is receiving chemotherapy, with previous rounds having nasty side-effects, including mouth sores and dehydration. It is not a cure, but it will keep the cancer at bay.

Once the lockdown is over the family are hoping to fly to Chicago for a second opinion and a meeting at Rush Hospital with Dr Paul Kent.

In America, doctors have had more experience with this type of cancer. However, the family now needs help with operation costs in excess of £250,000, and any money leftover will go to a cancer charity.

Hayley concluded: “As soon as this lockdown is over, we would love to hit the ground running as soon as they say, ‘yes, operate’. I never thought I would ever be in a position where I would be asking people for money, but these are desperate times.”

Holly and Hayley would like to thank Dr Ham, Rosie Johnson, and Kyle and Addenbrooke’s, and everyone who has helped so far.

To donate, visit www.go
fundme.com and search: ‘Life Saving Treatment for Holly Barker’ or call Hayley on 0776 6017858.

Hayley’s cousin Sarah Wilmshurst is also organising a running challenge called ‘4k£4ForHolly’ to raise money. Search ‘#saveholly’ on 
Facebook to find out about this and other exciting fundraising events for Holly, such as the handcrafted bench/seat raffle and 100 Square raffle.