A devoted aunt traveled over 4,000 miles to support her niece who was battling cancer after the NHS declined a liver transplant. Phoebe Clarke’s parents received the heartbreaking news of her rare hepatic angiosarcoma diagnosis in February last year. Doctors recommended a full liver replacement for the nine-year-old’s chance at long-term survival, but the NHS rejected the procedure due to high risks of the cancer recurring.

In a remarkable turn of events, a crowdfunding campaign raised nearly £200,000, and Phoebe’s aunt, Sarah Billington, volunteered to be a donor. Determined to give Phoebe a fighting chance, the family journeyed to Saudi Arabia for the transplant.

Phoebe’s parents, Matt Clarke and Lindsey Billington, were resolute in ensuring their daughter had a shot at survival despite the slim odds. Hepatic angiosarcoma, a highly aggressive liver cancer, poses a grim outlook for patients.

Lindsey shared with the Manchester Evening News that Phoebe’s transplant was successful, although she is experiencing some discomfort. Phoebe, along with her twin brother Eric, is receiving care at the King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre in Riyadh. The liver transplant involved removing a portion of Sarah’s liver, which will regenerate back to its normal size in a few months.

Messages of encouragement poured in for Phoebe, including one from Manchester City fan and footballer Erling Haaland. The family also received support from former boxing champion Frank Bruno.

Despite oncologists advocating for a liver transplant, three NHS centers in Leeds, Kings London, and Birmingham deemed it unsuitable for Phoebe. Grateful for the outpouring of donations, Lindsey expressed her gratitude on social media for the opportunity to access top-notch medical expertise in Riyadh.

Dr. Magnus Harrison of Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust expressed regret over the difficult decision not to offer Phoebe a liver transplant. Following consultations with specialist centers, including Birmingham and London, it was collectively agreed that a liver transplant was not the appropriate course of treatment for Phoebe, a decision supported by NHS Blood and Transplant.