Lochie is first child to ring Frossard’s ‘end of treatment’ bell

Three-year-old Lochie Fallaize was diagnosed with ALL – acute lymphocytic leukaemia – in August 2018.

She was initially treated in Southampton and returned to Guernsey in June 2019, where she completed her maintenance treatment in January 2021.

Normally children ring the end of treatment bell on the ward where they received most of their treatment, which in Lochie’s case was Piam Brown Ward in Southampton.

However, due to Covid-19 restrictions she was unable to travel to the UK.

Lochie’s mum, Ellie Waterman, said it was an emotional day to see Lochie finally ringing the end of treatment bell.

‘She has been an absolute fighter through her gruelling treatment,’ she said.

‘To see her so happy ringing the bell on the ward where she has received so much support was beautiful to see.’

The family held a party after the bellringing and raised money for the Priaulx Premature Baby Foundation as the family used the flat a lot while they were in Southampton. The flats are invaluable for the families of Bailiwick residents who have to spend a lot of time in Southampton for treatment. The bell will be used in the future to enable all Bailiwick children who go through such a journey to celebrate with their family around them.

The Children’s Community Nursing team organised for the new bell to be put up. Children’s Community Nurse Emily Hooper said they were pleased to help.

‘Our team has seen Lochie once a week since her return from Southampton to take blood samples and she has also had to travel to the UK every 12 weeks for chemotherapy treatment,’ she said.

‘She has been a superstar throughout. Because Lochie couldn’t ring the bell in Southampton, I contacted the charity End of Treatment Bells, which supply the bells, at the beginning of January this year and applied for Frossard Ward to have their own. This was delivered and installed just prior to the second lockdown in the Bailiwick in January.’