"Our Sole Christmas Wish: More Heartwarming Stories as Our Ailing Kids Witness Santa's Wonders - OK! Magazine

A child's first nativity play is always a momentous occasion for any parent. Yet, for the four families we'll be introducing you to, this event carries extra significance - all their children were diagnosed with leukaemia. We are honored to meet these young stars who, against all odds, continue to shine brightly.

Four-year-old Florence Harrison (commonly known as Florrie) lives in Hampshire with her family who consists of her mother, Jess, 40, an occupational therapist, her father Tom, 39, a psychological therapist, and her elder sister Lucy, nine. At the age of two, Florrie was diagnosed with leukaemia and underwent a stem cell transplant last year at Great Ormond Street Hospital. Now, she is fully recovered and began school in September.

This Christmas holds added excitement for Florrie, as she eagerly anticipates her debut in her first nativity show.

Having a conversation with us, she says with excitement, “I love to dress up and can’t wait to perform on stage with my friends. And I'm looking forward to the presents!”

For Christmas, Florrie, who will be assuming the role of a donkey in her first nativity play, hopes for “new rainbow fairy wings and a Polly Pocket from Santa Claus.”

Florrie's mother, Jess, opens up, explaining, “The nativity play is a huge event for our family as Florrie has been isolated for two years and never got a chance to participate in anything like this. Last year, a transplant saved her life. Seeing her attending school and being a part of a nativity play is a tremendous joy for us. A year ago, I would have never dared to imagine we'd reach this point.

Jess also shares her Christmas wish as she says, “My Christmas wish is for Florrie to have many more Christmas celebrations like this one. She adores Christmas - for us, the countdown begins at Easter! Florrie, who enjoys performing and dressing in glittering clothes, is not at all daunted by taking the stage. Her strong spirits have gotten her through her treatment. Florrie truly embodies a Christmas star – she is gentle, kind and caring. We can't wait for the play, meeting Santa, going to our first pantomime and just spending time as a family. This Christmas promises to be magical.”

From Colchester, Essex, we meet another little star, Niko Bolke-Carver, four, who lives with his parents – Katie, 33, and chef Timo, 36, - and his elder sister Nina, six. Niko was also diagnosed with leukaemia at the age of two, and the previous Christmas was tough for the family due to Niko's treatment and its severe side effects.

For Christmas, Niko is wishing for "a marble run, some Play-Doh and Slime," and is excited about hopefully participating in the nativity play with his friends.

With a sparkle in his eyes, Niko says, "Dressing up is so much fun! I wish I could be a king every day!”

Katie, his mother, adds, “Niko is a big fan of Christmas. We love decorating, buying gifts, doing crafts, baking - everything about it is magical to us and I aim to keep that magic alive for as long as possible.

Niko adores Disney, superheroes like Spider-Man, Hulk and Superman and bike rides. Although his legs are currently weak and painful, we are thinking of purchasing a trailer for our bikes. Every year, my Christmas wish remains the same - for us to keep combating this dreadful, life-threatening and life-altering disease, whilst making some beautiful memories together.

Each year it becomes financially harder to do extra things, so we value the simple moments together as much as possible.

Last year's Christmas was emotional, as we were on the brink of spending the holidays in the hospital. Fortunately, this year, we feel blessed to be able to celebrate another merry Christmas with Niko. Though our financial circumstances aren't great and charities aren’t equipped for Christmas, we hope to create a festive atmosphere close to home.

We have scheduled a pantomime and I am working on transforming Stanway Lakelands Community Centre into a grotto for oncology children. On Christmas Day, we'll enjoy a traditional Christmas dinner with my sister, brother-in-law and parents - the latter are flying from Spain for the holidays, adding more sparkle to our celebrations.”

Harry Winn, four, lives with mum Vicky, 31, an office manager, dad Zack, 32, a software developer, and baby brother Oscar, 10 months, in Liverpool. He was diagnosed with leukaemia last November while Vicky was seven months pregnant. The family spent last Christmas Day at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital.

Harry has just started school and his first nativity play is set to be a real highlight. After such a traumatic time last Christmas, the family are pulling out all the stops this year, especially as it will be baby Oscar’s first Christmas.

Harry says he “can’t wait” for Christmas and is hoping Santa will bring “an orange train with lights on and a Hot Wheels car”.

As for his stage debut at the school play, he has a very good reason for being pleased as punch with the role he’s been cast in.

“I’m pleased I will be a donkey – they are my favourite animal and my toy donkey is my best friend.”

Harry is in the maintenance phase of treatment and is still undergoing chemotherapy and taking steroids, but mum Vicky says he is unrecognisable from this time last year.

“Last Christmas Harry was bedbound and couldn’t physically walk. I’m now watching him running around the playground. He is so confident now and loves decorating the Christmas tree.”

Vicky adds, “My Christmas wish is simply for Harry to be well and for us all to be able to celebrate properly as a family. We will spend Christmas Day with extended family and have turkey with all the trimmings.

“But first, we have the school nativity to look forward to. Of course, it’s a big deal for any parent but I know I will be an emotional wreck seeing him thrive on the stage. I’ll need waterproof mascara!

“He’s been practising singing Jingle Bells. The idea of him being up there with his school friends is just wild. Last year Harry was so ill – I could never have foreseen he would be able to do this.

“It’s great Harry is going to be a donkey – his toy one has been by his side at every single hospital appointment and visit. The doctors have listened to Donkey’s heartbeat and pretended to take his blood pressure! He helps Harry feel safe and not scared. Harry hasn’t ever let his cancer treatment keep him down. He is so resilient and has kept so upbeat. He’s my Christmas star.”

Teddy Cripps, three, lives in Croydon with his twin brother George and their parents Sarah, 37, a business owner, and Kurt, 36, a broker. Diagnosed with leukaemia in April last year, he was given a 13% chance of survival at the time. But a bone marrow transplant in August 2022 saved Teddy’s life. He is now disease-free.

“I know every parent gets a little choked up to see their child in their first nativity but with Teddy there was a real chance he wouldn’t make it,” says mum Sarah.

“So when I see him up there on stage I will tell myself to just be in the moment and try and enjoy it and not allow my brain to wonder about what could have been. We are one of the lucky families and we are so grateful.

“Teddy was in hospital last Christmas and it was such an anxious time for us. It was terribly upsetting not to wake up together as a family and for Teddy and George to be without their twin brother broke my heart. This Christmas will be amazing.

“My mum is German and I’m excited this year to start some of our family traditions by baking biscuits and celebrating the German tradition of St Nicholas Day, where a child places polished shoes outside their bedroom and when they wake up they find them full of treats.

“The twins have just turned three and are a little young to really understand the concept of Father Christmas, but Teddy loves being around his family. He loves to play games and to eat so I know he will be a big fan of the festive season.

“Teddy currently has an obsession with ocean animals so hopefully Father Christmas will deliver some Duplo or Lego so we can all join in with making a whale.

“This year with the probability of a cure in our favour I can’t put into words how much it means to me to have our family all together.

“Outrunning the big C was exhausting and traumatising and Kurt and I will be raising a glass in support for the families in our community spending Christmas in hospital this year and for those children who sadly are no longer with us.”

There are about 2,000 people in the UK waiting for a stem cell transplant but only 3% of the eligible population are on the stem cell register. More stem cell donors are desperately needed.