C/O 7 Chestnut Close
Gresford
Wrexham
LL12 8ER
United Kingdom

NB: this is a forwarding address for the Pal, we do NOT disclose home addresses

palemail@postpals.co.uk

Gaby M's Parents/Guardians

Vicki

Gaby M's Siblings

Emma 24/02/1996 likes make up, music, dancing, guides, cooking, handbags.
Cat 06/01/1995 make up, dancing, guides, reading, acting and modelling.

Gaby M's Interests

Swimming, dancing, PC, drawing, her clarinet, cooking, reading, High School Musical and Hannah Montana.

Gaby M's Favourite Colour

Pink

Is Gaby M able to read?

Yes

Is Gaby M able to use hands?

Yes

Is Gaby M visually/hearing impaired?

No

Does Gaby M suffer from any developmental delay?

No

Story written 2007

Gaby was diagnosed with a rare thyroid tumour in Dec 05, after being treated for something else for 15 months. It was a big shock! Following diagnosis, Gaby underwent 8 hours of surgery at Alderhey followed by radiation treatment at Christies, Manchester. She has been very brave and always has a smile for everyone! Her treatment will continue for the foreseeable feature but looks positive.

Gaby has 3 sisters, Steph, Cat and Emma. Steph lives aboard but Catherine and Emma have been a big help to Gaby. She loves being at school with her friends and has only missed school when she has been too ill to go!

Gaby has remained very positive and is grateful for all the opportunities her illness has given. She has made lots of friends, especially on our stays in Malcolm Sargent House in Scotland. She has been to swim with the dolphins, been in a pink limousine, and been to Lapland. 

Despite having a 10 inch scar on her neck, Gaby loves having her photo taken and would really love to be a model. She would love to meet Tara Banks.

Whilst Gaby is having her treatment she has to be in isolation due to the radiation but always manages to smile. In Dec 06 she was awarded "Cancer Research UK Little Star Award" for being such a little star!

Update 4th June 2009

Gaby continues along the same path. Her latest scan "warrants further investigation". So we wait!

In herself, she hasn’t been too bad, though has had a few days when she has overheated and been hallucinating. I think it’s down to the good weather we are having! Her skin still itches but she isn’t scratching so much so that’s something! She managed to do the field events at school sports day but the track events were a bit too much for her.

She has been thrilled with the post this month, some beautiful cards, particularly from Chris and Wendy, thanks so much! And to Jean for the chocolate from America which was soo beautiful, Gaby was stunned and it’s a shame to eat it! It even moved her to write a thank you but so far it’s still unfinished so I will pass on her appreciation here. She is usually too tired after school to do much and last weekend didn’t move far from her bed.  Thank you to everyone who takes the time to write to Gaby, it really means a lot. And thanks to Viks and the team too.

Update 1st May 2009

Gaby continues to be well but tired. She has just come back from an outdoor education trip for 3 days and looks worn out! I’m sure she had a great time though!

She is waiting to see another consultant about her skin problems. Other than that we just plod on! 

Update 3rd March 2009

Gaby has been to see the X Factor tour this weekend and really enjoyed it. She got very tired though and was struggling a bit with her tummy pains. She has had pains in all sorts of places this month! She goes back on her treatment regime this month. I haven’t told her yet but I’m sure she will take it in her stride! She has been itching a lot and has scratched her skin to pieces in places.

Thanks to everyone for her mail and for her sisters too. It was Emma’s birthday in February and she had lots of cards. Many thanks to all the new pals too. Gaby was amazed to get a book, with a lovely letter, from Joanna in Greece! Every mail is special and Gaby loves getting them! Thanks to stitched with love for Gaby’s cushion too, it’s on her bed!

Update 6th February 2009

Once again, thank you for all the wishes and cards sent to Gaby and her sisters. Every one is different and a pleasure to receive! We have had cards from some new posties this month so thank you! She was totally made up with her Miley Cyrus book!! And Mum liked the chocolates too!

Gaby has been tired this month, and has been feeling a bit off colour. She has been staying in bed quite a bit. She has also been itching badly and we’re not sure why. If anyone else says the word ‘virus’ to me I may scream! We seem to have got to the ‘watch and wait’ phase of her treatment, which is almost worse than knowing what’s happening! Just blood tests and scans! It’s hard to believe we have been on this path for over 3 years now. But she remains happy and she had fun out in the recent snow! 

Update 6th January 2009

Gaby had her normal monthly scans etc last month and there is still no real change. We approached Christmas cautiously as the last few she has been ill, but she remained well and enjoyed her birthday too. She had a disco party and i felt so happy seeing her running around and having fun. She managed to get through all her school concerts too! 

At the moment Gaby has a cold coming on which we try to avoid at all costs as she has no lymphatic drainage from her head on one side so her face swells up. It’s looking a bit puffy so we’re hoping it doesn’t get worse. 

Last months post was overwhelming! There were parcels and mail almost every day! The girls want to say a big thank you to everyone! Emma had a lovely elf box from her elf, thank you so much! They opened it so fast I didn’t see it all. When i ask them “where did you get that?” the answer is usually "Post Pals"! Oh and when Gaby found her X Factor T shirt which Viks had cunningly disguised, she was so excited! I meant to take some photos but they were way too quick! 

Gaby has started guides tonight. She has gone with her sisters and was so excited! It’s also Cat’s birthday today - thank you for all her birthday wishes!

I’d just also like to say that one of Gaby’s friends was been diagnosed with leukaemia over the holidays. My thoughts go out to her family, and hope that it all goes well. I think Gaby is worrying about it because of her experiences, so she could do with some cheering up. 

Update 10th December 2008

I have sat and watched you on TV this morning! You are so amazing, I had tears in my eyes watching!

It’s Gaby’s birthday tomorrow and she has so much from Post Pals! I can’t work as much as I would like due to Gaby’s condition and all these gifts make so much difference to Gaby and her sisters! I just want to say a huge THANK YOU to you and all the regular posties… Kate, Julie and many more! It makes so much difference to Gaby and the whole family!

Update 1st December 2008

Well, for the first time in 3 years we seem to be going in the right direction! At last her thyroglobulin levels are falling! Though we have been told not to get too excited… it may be a one off! So we are having more bloods done again in December, as usual. At least this year for the first time in 3 years we will be home for Christmas (well so far it looks that way!).

Gaby is looking forward to her birthday. She is having a disco party. She went to a friends swim party last week and had a great time even though she spent the next 2 days recovering! I don’t think her tiredness will ever improve. It’s just something we have to live with. She has now got a really thick duvet on her bed as she couldn’t keep warm with these cold nights! You can barely see her but you can hear her snores! 

We have had so many nice things this month! Gaby and her sisters say a great big thank you to everyone who takes time to send them things. They all had an anonymous parcel each with lots of things in… thank you so much who ever it was! Emma was over the moon with hers as it had a new black handbag in it and she absolutely loves it… she is a total bag lady!

Update 3rd November 2008

Gaby has re started her scans and bloods again this month. Her scans are still showing nodes in her neck so we just have to wait and see what happens. She also has anaemia so is very tired. 

We have just had a lovely break at Donna’s Dream House in Blackpool. It’s a great place and the people who run it are just amazing! Gaby was pleased we got up the tower but still wants to do the Eiffel! Pity the weather was so cold! The lights were amazing too! 

Thank you all so much for all the gifts you have sent to Gaby and her sisters this month! It has really cheered them up!

Update 28th September 2008

Gaby is back to her hospital routine now. She had a break over the summer, to see if waiting any longer would show any new nodules. She has had 5 lots of blood taken so far and will be having her second MRI scan this week. She really hates having them as she has to lie still with her neck extended for 40 minutes which means that she can’t even see the dvd player that is there! She has also had a lot of shooting pains in her head and on top of that she has a cold! So a miserable bunny at the present! Needing lots of hugs! 

Thank you Julie for the Pot Bellied Pig! She enjoyed looking at it! And thanks to everyone else who as sent mail to Gaby and her sisters!

Update 30th August 2008

Gaby has had a break from everything this month and we have been on holiday to Yorkshire. She has had some good days and some not so good! She is looking forward to going back to school next week. She isn’t looking forward to getting back to hospitals though! Next month she has another scan and a hospital visit. 

She loves getting post and seems to get more than we do!! Cat and Emma also like getting letters and are often busy sending them too! Thank you all for thinking of us! 

Update 7th July 2008

Thank you all for all the mail Gaby gets. She was especially impressed by Despina’s card from New York! And also from Mrs. Miles class at Summerhil School in Brighton! It’s very kind of all of you to think of her and her sisters!!

Gaby has had an easy month in June, with only one appointment. July is going to make up for it though! We are back at Christies for review on the 21st. She still has antibodies to the thymoglobulin, so we can’t really see what is happening, but it’s assumed that antibodies to TG mean that TG is present and therefore, also thyroid tissue, which we really don’t want! We are hoping that she hasn’t become resistant to the treatment.   

In herself, she has been much the same! Still gets pain here and there but carries on regardless! On Saturday she did the Survivors lap of honour at our local Cancer Research Relay for Life! We would love to come down to the Pals party but it is too far for her to travel. We hope to meet up with Summer this week though!

Update 2nd June 2008

Gaby has been well but grumpy this month. She had an MRI scan which she hated as they had to hold her head still in a frame. The scan showed that there are still lumps in her neck so we are going back to Manchester soon for more review! 

We’ve just had a lovely week down in the New Forest. The weather wasn’t at its best but it was nice to get away! Back to reality now though! 

Gaby loves to get your mail and so do Cat and Emma. It means a lot to them so thank you to all who take the time to make their day!

Update 2nd May 2008

Gaby isn’t happy this month as she now has to have bloods taken more often and has to have a line put in to take them. She also has to have MRI scans which she hates as she has to lie still for so long! She has also not felt so good; she even had a few days off school which isn’t like her! She is looking forward to going on holiday to Bournemouth though at the end of May - let’s hope the sun comes out!

Thank you all for all her mail! She loves getting post, it makes her day!

Update 4th April 2008

Gaby has had a reasonable month and has been quite busy! She went to stay with her Grandparents for a few days after Easter which gave me a break. She had lots of Easter eggs and we have also bought the girls a trampoline with their Easter money! Let’s hope that was a good idea!

She has been well in herself apart from the usual tiredness and pain. However her blood results from her monthly tests are not showing the results we hoped for and it’s looking likely that the last treatment has not been as effective as we hoped. At the moment, all we can do is wait. It may take another few months before we have an answer. All we can say at the moment is that it’s possible that there is still some tumour somewhere. 

Gaby would like to say Thank You to all of you who send her letters. She tries to reply but can’t always! She checks the post avidly each day and she loves it when it’s from afar! They do mean so much to her, especially on her bad days when she can only rest in bed. Thanks to Julie, Maria Kate, Jenn, Nicki, John and other Pals! Also to anybody we haven’t mentioned! 

Our sponsored swim is still ongoing. We had a break due to problems at the pool but we hope to be under way again with some publicity!

Update 27th February 2008

We are still waiting for a verdict from the hospital on Gaby’s recent treatment but we don’t seem to be having much luck! However, she has not been well this month and seems to have far more off days than normal. We don’t seem to be able to get on top of the pain and nausea and she always seems tired and sleeps for most of the time that she isn’t at school! She always has a smile though! We hope that we will get a result from the hospital soon. She has yet another medicine now... from the dentist! She has given her a fluoride wash as the vomiting and loss of calcium is taking a toll on her teeth. She did manage a bowling party with a friend this week but spent the rest of the night in pain and nauseous! Hmmmm... maybe that was too much ice cream! 

Emma says thank you to everyone who sent her cards and gifts for her birthday. Thanks to Maria and Jo, and everyone else! Catherine seems to have written to most of the other pals this month! She is really into card making! Gaby has been really pleased with all her post! She has had a lot of cards and letters and I know that Cat tries to reply where she can but if we haven’t got to you, we really do appreciate the time you take to think of   us all. Thank you so much!  

My swim continues... slowly! With school holidays and caring for Gaby it’s been a bit slow but I hope to get there! Every time I plan something, I either get called to work or Gaby is sick!

Update 1st February 2008

Gaby has had a quiet month. She went back to Alder Hey but we will have to wait a while longer before we know how her recent treatment went. Apart from her pains and tiredness she has been well. She has not been able to dance recently as she finds it all a bit much but maybe she will get back to it soon. She can mange to swim for a few minutes with her sisters, and has managed to swim 25m, albeit very slowly! She really enjoys getting mail from her friends here! Her card quilt was a great success!

Update 3rd January 2008

Gaby has had a busy month with everything going on! She has been to O2 arena to see High School musical! And it was Christmas and her birthday! She managed to get home from hospital in time to celebrate her 9th birthday with her family, but she was very tired after her treatment at Christies. We now have to wait and see how effective it has been. She is starting to pick up a bit now that she is back on her thyroxine but is still getting tummy pains. She decided when she was at Christies that she was a big girl now and doesn’t need to have "magic cream" anymore! So she had all her bloods without! This means that now she can have venous blood taken which makes life a lot easier for us all! I’m very proud of her! Today is the first day in ages she has managed to get dressed! We are back at Alder Hey next week.

Gaby remains happy though and has been so pleased with all the mail she has had this month. She has never been bored with all the things that have been sent for her to do. She has been making things with Cat for other Post Pals! It helps take her mind off things! Thank you to everyone who sent things to Gaby and her sisters! Gaby and Cat will try and reply to those with addresses, but if we miss you, thanks so much for your kindness, it means so much to Gaby and she loves getting mail especially when she isn’t feeling too good.

Update 19th November 2007

Gaby is going back to Christies for more treatment on December 3rd. She isn’t feeling too good at the minute, she is very tired and in pain, but she keeps smiling! Yesterday she got to fly with Santa in a helicopter! She really enjoyed it! She has also been keeping up with her dancing, winning a competition on Friday! We are not sure if she will be out of hospital for her birthday on the 11th so we have been getting her a few treats before she goes! She had a manicure on Friday and has had some new clothes. It always seems to be this time of year when she is having treatment - over her birthday and Christmas. We also have to fit in moving to a new house as well! The weather has got so cold and Gaby is   finding it difficult to keep warm, while her thyroxin is low. She has to stop taking it for 4 weeks before she has her treatment. Once she has had her radiation she has to stay in isolation as she is radioactive. This means I can’t go in and cuddle her - well only for a little one! It can take several days for it to clear enough for her to come out! It also makes her feel very sick and tired, so she isn’t really looking forward to it! It can be boring for her too as no one can visit!

Hopefully she will be back to her normal self in time for Christmas. Thanks for all your messages, she really loves getting them!! Do note the new contact address though!

Update 20th October 2007

Recent investigations have shown that Gaby’s tumour is re-growing in her neck. She has just spent a few days in Christies in Manchester while it was checked out and she will have to go back in December for another radiation treatment.

Gaby remains happy and has been really brave this last week while tests were done. She was so pleased to come home and find some Post Pals mail! It really cheers her up and although she can’t reply to you all, she knows each and every one of you! She keeps it all in a file and knows where everyone lives and who they are! Thank you all so much… it really cheers her up!

Update 12th August 2007

Gaby has been having a good summer playing on the beach and has even managed to get out on her new bike! It’s been a long time since she wanted to do that! She is back in Alder Hey next week and is actually looking forward to it! She hopes they will find out what is making her tummy so sore!

She loves getting all your messages and sends her love to all of you! She will try and write back to you when she feels able to!

Update 11th June 2007

Gaby continues to be a happy little soul even though she is constantly tired and in pain. We are waiting for a date for her to go into Alder for more surgery and some tests to find the cause of this.

She has managed to make some progress with her swimming now though, and our new car has made taking her out a lot easier.

She loves getting Post Pals mail! She keeps it all in a little folder and gets it all out and reads it! So thank you to all of you who take the time to make her smile!

Update 11th April 2007

Gaby is hopefully doing well. She is not going to have anymore radiation for the time being so has now been transferred back to the care of Alder Hey. She wants to thank you all for everything that has been sent! She runs for the post everyday and will try and get back to you all sometime or other! It really makes her day!

Caring for her has taken over everything and not being able to work has made things very difficult here. We were hoping to upgrade our car this year. It’s very old anyway and all the journeys to hospitals have taken their toll! But it will have to do for now. It has taken a lot this year just trying to keep her warm through the winter!! But just to see her smile makes it all worth it!

And thanks to Vikki and everyone for their time with Post Pals! It’s really great!