Family devastated at Skye’s bleak diagnosis

Brave 16-month-old Skye Sutcliffe, of Middleton, Leeds, has been battling an extremely rare combination of acute lymphoblastic and myeloid leukaemia since she was 20 weeks old.

Hopes were high in August last year after her three-year-old brother Harvey donated bone marrow to Skye for what doctors considered was her best chance of survival.

Both youngsters recovered well from the operation and initial thoughts on Skye’s condition were positive.

However, the family have now been told by medics that both types of leukaemia have returned.

Mother Amie Mills said: “It’s hard because we can only help her the best we can but she can’t communicate to us what’s hurting or how to help and that’s difficult for us.

“Skye’s crackers, funny and independent and nothing fazes her.

“This is everyday life for us now and it’s just something we get on with because you have to. I just hope that when Harvey is old enough to understand exactly what he did for Skye – that even though it didn’t work, he’s still happy and proud he donated his bone marrow for her.”

With no treatment for a cure, Skye is now under palliative care, but the inspirational girl is still fighting. Skye was only four months old when she became ill.

After developing a rash, doctors suspected meningitis. But after tests, they gave her parents the news that it was acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.

Her grandmother Amelia Sockett has organised a three-mile ‘Run for Skye’ at Middleton Park on February 14 at 11am in aid of Candlelighters and Delete Blood Cancer UK. For tickets visit: www.runleeds.co.uk/skye.