Time is fast running out for Chester schoolgirl Erin Cross to travel to America to receive the vital treatment that will give the five-year-old a fighting chance of surviving the leukaemia that has afflicted her life for the past three years.
It may have only taken just a couple of weeks for the Chester community to raise the hundreds of thousands of pounds little Erin needed to receive lifesaving Car T Cell therapy from the USA, but her mum Sarah says that she has now been told Erin needs to get it even sooner than the seven weeks they had originally planned for.
This is because Erin’s disease is now classed as ‘refractory’, meaning it has become resistant to chemotherapy.
The Cross family, from Upton, who have asked the public to send them positive vibes, now face a rush to arrange the process of Erin’s referral to Seattle Children’s Hospital and are hoping she will be ready to go in about two weeks.
Related: Erin Cross £100,000 appeal hits target in 48 hours
Sarah said: “We need to get there as soon as we can because her disease is now classed as ‘refractory’ meaning it’s resistant to chemotherapy. As soon as Erin’s lymphocytes reach a level of 0.5 and above we will be heading off to begin the treatment. At the moment the team thinks this will be approximately two weeks.”
Related: Watch Sarah Cross speak about Erin on This Morning
“Erin is currently in theatre having samples of bone marrow taken, the results of which will be sent onto Seattle. Positive vibes are needed all round now to get Erin’s lymphocyte level up to 0.5 and above so she can begin treatment,” Sarah added.
Once Erin has the treatment, it is hoped she will then be in remission from acute lymphoblastic leukaemia and make her eligible for a bone marrow transplant, which would be her only hope of survival.
In the two weeks since Sarah and husband Antony issued a desperate appeal for the public to help them reach a £140,000 target, the people of Chester have rallied together to ensure Erin had enough cash to get her the treatment she so desperately needs.
A huge campaign group called All About Erin have been working around the clock to organise fundraising events, and there has also been another campaign aimed at trying to get Erin back to school, which she loved attending before her relapse in March.
Related: Upton family has eight weeks to save their daughter's life
The group contacted every headteacher in the borough asking them to support the #GetErinBacktoSchool campaign, and there are currently 25 schools who have completed or are in the process of organising fundraising events for Erin.
These include a baked bean challenge, cake sales and even pupils donating their pocket money.
Erin's aunt Jen Hughes told The Chronicle: “I knew our email would be well received but I had no idea how much the headteachers of our borough would take Erin to their hearts.
“Some of the ideas that the children and staff have come up with are simply amazing. There are some very touching events happening over the next few weeks and I can’t wait to share them as the days go by.
“If you follow us on Twitter you can see how much support we have and which schools follow us. We are raising funds and awareness and to have children raising money for children is simply inspiring.
“Thank you, wonderful headteachers, parents and school staff. Your children are helping Erin be one step closer to getting back to school with her friends, where she should be.”
