Fundraiser launched after 23-year-old Sheffield woman dies having defied brain tumour odds
“If you were to live like Ella, you would be full of love and laughter - that’s simply what she did”
A fundraiser has been set up after a woman from Sheffield died 20 years after she was told she would have six months to live.
She was diagnosed with a brain tumour at the age of three, when her family were told she had just six months to live.
Despite this, Ella “lived to the fullest” and has been described as “very happy” in her life.
Ella’s mother, Jo Frith, 57, said: “She was very funny, and made a lasting impression on everyone she met.”
Since her passing, a fundraiser has been set up by family friend and carer, Jessica Sidey, Nicola Clayton and Leanne Vaughan, teaching assistants to Ella in infant school.
Jessica Sidey, 33, from Dronfield, said: “She was a character, you would never forget her, she had a wicked sense of humour.”
Back when Ella was first diagnosed, she underwent surgery to remove the tumour and had chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
The effects of the radiotherapy meant she lost the use of the right side of her body and initially couldn’t walk. Mum, Jo, said: “It came as a complete shock.”
Jo explained that people wanted to help them in any way they could, but Rob, Ella’s dad, would never accept.
So instead, they gave back and set up “Ella’s fund”, supporting local charities other children living with cancer.
Jo explained: “People wanted to do something for us, people offered us money but Rob would never accept, we were going to do this ourselves so we could help others in the same position.
“We had a rule in our family to act as normal as possible around Ella, which was hard, but if I could do it 24 hours a day, then you can too.”
Sadly, in August 2024, Rob suffered a heart attack and died, which was a “massive shock” to the family, leaving Jo without her partner, and now her daughter.
Jessica Sidey, who is a family friend and carer for Ella, shared how “remarkable” Jo is, and that even after losing her husband, “she stayed strong for Ella”.
In the February of that same year, Ella had moved into assisted living. Jo recalls having to tell her what had happened, which she described as “the hardest conversation” she ever had to have.
She said: “It was horrendous, but Ella had such a basic outlook on life, she thought of heaven and the stars and she always felt they were all together.”
Ella had to deal with lots of health issues throughout her life, dealing with multiple tumours over the years. This September, she suffered a stroke after having more radiation to treat another tumour, and for over two weeks she was hospitalised before she passed away.
Jo added: “We always knew she was special, but we were grateful for every day we had with her as we felt we were on borrowed time.
“Rob used to say he was just happy to wake up each day and she was there.”
The Gofundme page was set up to help with the funeral costs to “take the pressure of Jo” as well as giving Ella “the send off she deserves”.
The fundraiser has now surpassed their goal of £6000, and currently stands at £6,461.
Jessica Sidey, who helped set up the page, said: “From the bottom of our hearts it means so much. We want to raise as much as we can for the funeral and have an ‘Ella style party’ with lots of pink, glitsy, balloons and party food.
“If you were to live like Ella, you would be full of love and laughter - that’s simply what she did.”
If you wish to donate, you can visit the Gofundme page here.