Shining a light on these Sheffield 'super mums' who go above and beyond for their children

To mark Mother’s Day, we are celebrating these super mums in the city who have powered through everything life has thrown at them and have made a difference in their family’s lives.

Haala Wake:

Back in February 2019, Haala’s son Finley developed tonsillitis she recalls: “Finley became very pale, he had no energy, wasn’t eating and suffered from awful night sweats. The doctors tried different antibiotics, but nothing seemed to make him better.

Six weeks later, on 21st March 2019, Finley was sent for blood tests at his local hospital after doctors suspected his tonsillitis had developed into glandular fever. Instead, the results revealed he had leukaemia.

“When they told me what it was, I was just in pure shock and couldn’t comprehend that it was actually happening to my little boy,” Haala said.

Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia is a type of cancer that causes the overproduction of immature lymphoid cells. These cells fill the bone marrow and stop it making healthy white blood cells.

Finley’s type of leukaemia is rare with around 790 people diagnosed with the condition each year in the UK, according to the NHS.

Finley was immediately sent to Sheffield Children’s Hospital; the next day, a bone marrow test confirmed the diagnosis - that afternoon he started his treatment on Ward 6, the Cancer and Leukaemia Ward.

Finley has since had nine months of intensive chemotherapy ranging from injections to tablets, some of which are done alongside lumbar punctures. His treatment has also required blood transfusions and physiotherapy, as it has impacted how he walks.

Mum Haala recalls their time on the Cancer and Leukaemia Ward: “Finley was so scared and really poorly when we first went onto the ward. I slept in the bed with him, which meant I didn’t get much sleep, but I didn’t mind; I just wanted to be with my little boy.

Speaking about what it means to be a mum to Finley, Haala wake said: “It’s Challenging and enjoyable; he is just like any normal kid at the moment. Day to day struggles include mood swings and sickness, although that’s starting to calm down a bit more.

“It’s generally mood swings, but it’s a bit harder knowing what it is because he’s turning 13 in a couple of months, so you’re thinking his hormones are going to start kicking in; it’s going to be a double whammy, he’s on his steroids and everything, and then his hormones are all over the place.”

“Don’t get me wrong, it’s hard, but I’m a mother, that’s our job. We’ve got to look after the kids no matter what. It comes with a territory, unfortunately, that’s a tough territory, but we’ll get there in another year or so, hopefully.”

“It’s easier now we’re in maintenance than it was in the first year because we basically just lived in the hospital,” said Haala.

Samantha Frain:

Samantha Frain and her family have helped raised thousands for the Sheffield Children’s Hospital to help transform the ward which saved her daughter’s life.

Olivia Frain was just 14 weeks old when her parents took her for a routine weighing with a health visitor.

Mum Samantha explained: “She hadn’t been unwell, she wasn’t displaying any symptoms that caused us concern. We were supposed to be going to a swimming lesson that morning, but the health visitor was worried she looked pale, so they sent us to Sheffield Children’s Hospital for some blood tests”.

Within two hours, a consultant diagnosed Olivia with infant Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia – Olivia was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit at Sheffield Children’s Hospital, where she spent the next five days.

“Within a couple of hours, the floor fell out of our world. It was very surreal, terrified doesn’t even cover it,” Samantha continued.

Soon after, Olivia began the first of three rounds of chemotherapy on the Cancer and Leukaemia Ward at Sheffield Children’s Hospital.

While Olivia battled leukaemia, her search for a bone marrow donor was well underway.

Unfortunately, following the transplant, Olivia became seriously ill with the most severe form of Graft versus Host Disease, where the donated bone marrow views the recipient’s body as foreign and proceeds to attack it.

The life-threatening condition saw what was expected to be a six-week stay following her transplant become six months, in which the toddler was nil-by-mouth for five months.

During her treatment, Olivia was reliant on over 60 blood and platelet transfusions to keep her strength up.

Samantha added: “The ward, the staff and the team are incredible; we owe Olivia’s life to them. You could see the pride in their face as she started walking for the first time; they feel it too, as they’ve been there every step of the way.

Have you got Mother’s Day plans?

This Sunday, from 10 am until 2 pm, Bullion Chocolate is hosting a Mother's Day pop-up event at Cutlery Works.

There will be sweet treats on offer, including rocky road with house-made marshmallow, brownies and freshly baked cookies, plus they'll have hot chocolate and Caravan Roastery's coffee.

In these confusing and worrying times, local journalism is more vital than ever. Thanks to everyone who helps us ask the questions that matter by taking out a digital subscription or buying a paper. We stand together. Nancy Fielder, editor.