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4-Month-Old Battles Rare Cancer After Doctors Dismiss Illness as Cold
13 Nov
Summary
- Newborn Melody diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia after initial cold symptoms
- Spent 30 days in intensive care, including 2 weeks on ventilator and 2 rounds of chemo
- Family using charity housing to support Melody and their 4 other children
In April 2025, 4-month-old Melody Aggett began experiencing cold-like symptoms that affected her breathing and ability to breastfeed. Her parents, Rachel-Elizabeth Hewitt and Kevin Aggett, took her to the hospital, where the first consultant thought it was just bronchiolitis. However, another consultant kept Melody overnight and ordered further tests, which revealed a devastating diagnosis - Melody had acute myeloid leukemia, a rare cancer affecting around 100 children and young adults in the UK each year.
Melody was immediately given a platelet transfusion and transferred to a pediatric intensive care unit, where she spent 30 days, including two weeks on a ventilator and two rounds of chemotherapy. In August 2025, she was transferred to Great Ormond Street Hospital for an urgent bone marrow transplant.
Despite the difficult treatments, Melody's parents have been able to provide comfort, especially through breastfeeding. They describe Melody as a "fighter" who has smiled and giggled throughout her ordeal, while they have cried continuously. The family is currently using a charity house and family room near the hospital to support Melody and their four other children during this challenging time.
