11 December 2025
How a backpack became life-changing for Aria
This Christmas, Southampton Hospitals Charity is supporting the children’s cancer ward (Piam Brown Ward) at Southampton Children’s Hospital and their portable treatment backpacks. Each backpack holds a small CADD pump that safely delivers medicine through a fine line, allowing children who need continuous cancer therapy to receive treatment at home. This means fewer nights in hospital and more time with family.
Hospital staff say these backpacks are making a significant difference to patients and their families. But what do the children and parents think?
We spoke to Suzanne, mum of 11-year-old Aria, who has experienced the impact first-hand. In January this year, Aria was diagnosed with neuroblastoma, an aggressive childhood cancer.
Suzanne describes her daughter as bright, funny, creative, and outgoing. Aria loves acting, exploring the outdoors at Hengistbury Head in Dorset, and spending time with her little brother, Blake. But last Christmas, Aria wasn’t her usual happy self.
A Christmas no family should face
Suzanne explains that in the weeks leading up to Christmas, Aria had been feeling increasingly unwell. She and Aria’s dad, David, went back and forth to doctors, searching for answers as their normally energetic daughter grew more tired and withdrawn. On Christmas Day, Aria was so lethargic she couldn’t play with her presents.
Shortly after, the family received the devastating news that Aria had neuroblastoma. Tumours had already spread to her spine, chest, ovaries, and adrenal glands. An emergency MRI scan revealed that one tumour was crushing her spinal cord. Aria was rushed straight into life-saving spinal surgery:
“When she came out of the MRI scan, they called us and said she needs to go straight into emergency spinal surgery… she would have been paralysed if we hadn’t have done that procedure. ” – Suzanne
Treatment at Piam Brown Ward
Aria began her treatment overseas, where the family lived at the time. Suzanne became her full-time carer and made the difficult decision to return to the UK. This meant that Aria could receive specialist treatment at Southampton Children’s Hospital. To keep his job and provide financial stability, Aria’s dad had to remain abroad with her younger brother, Blake.
In Southampton, Aria received care from the Piam Brown team, which Suzanne describes as simply extraordinary.
The hospital staff did everything they could to make Aria’s time in hospital feel warm and supportive – but the long days on the ward were still incredibly tough for her, and a world away from the life most 11-year-olds know.
The little backpack that gave Aria her life back
The hospital staff introduced Aria to a small portable infusion pump, tucked inside a backpack that made a massive change to Aria’s wellbeing:
“When the pump got introduced, it was just an absolute game-changer. With the continuous infusion of anti-sickness medication, the vomiting stopped and she could live pretty much, not a normal life, but live as close as we could get to a normal life.” – Suzanne
Suzanne saw the change immediately. Aria felt the impact too:
“With the pump… it means I can go home, and it means I can go to school. It means lots of things.” – Aria
For a family living in different countries, the impact has been even greater. The backpack allowed Aria to spend time at home with her dad and brother during their visits – precious moments they otherwise wouldn’t have had.
Will you help us help children like Aria?
Going through treatment is tough both physically and mentally. The backpack has given Aria a mental break and a little taste of what it feels like to be a normal 11-year-old again.
With your help, we can support more children like Aria and families facing incredibly difficult times. Read more about our Christmas Appeal to find out how you can help children and parents like Aria and Suzanne.