The mother of a seven-year-old schoolgirl diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) has spoken of the incredibly difficult year faced by the family from Burradon, North Tyneside – but says despite everything her “strong” daughter “has been amazing.”
It was in May 2025 when little Sofia Hook, then aged just six, began to develop increased bruising in unusual places. Following a nosebleed her parents Rachael and Dominic Hook rushed Sofia to the RVI hospital in Newcastle. Speaking to ChronicleLive Rachael said doctors were immediately concerned over the ‘peachy rash’ and bruising and carried out blood tests on Sofia.
“Within a matter of about an hour we got taken into a room with this doctor and there was a consultant there and they told us that they had looked at the blood and did a Blood Film and that it wasn’t good news and Sofia had a form of blood cancer.” At that point Sofia was admitted to hospital straight away, with doctors due to carry out a bone marrow biopsy and lumbar puncture the following day to determine what type of leukaemia.
“And then we were taken into a room later that day by Sofia’s consultant and told that it was indeed the AML leukaemia – an aggressive type requiring intensive treatment – and that they would be starting treatment that same night with the chemo.”
After a couple rounds of testing it was revealed Sofia had an inherited genetic predisposition. Describing the utter shock, Racheal said: “It was just absolutely devastating. We carried that worry around as well, that potentially we were all carrying the gene and my son was also at risk.”
Rachael, her husband Dominic and their 16-year-old son Liam were all tested but were found to not carry the gene which originates with Sofia. “It took a couple of months before we actually got the results back from that so it was a stressful time waiting.”
But after responding well to initial treatment over a six-month period, Sofia was given the all clear in November. At the beginning of January she made her phased-return back to school with Rachael and her Dominic also returning to work. “We were starting to get some normality back,” Rachael continued.
“And then just three weeks later we had that awful news again.” Sofia had had a nosebleed at school and the concerned family returned to hospital. After numerous tests Rachal got the devastating call from the consultation that she had relapsed.
When first diagnosed the consultant told the family because of the genetic predisposition, there was a chance she would develop leukaemia again, though this was thought to be years ahead in the future. “We just couldn’t believe that it had returned so quickly and even the consultant was shocked,” Rachel continued, “We were told that this time the only option was a transplant.
“It’s obviously been tough for Sofia because she’d missed that much school last year. She loved getting back there and seeing her friends again. Just three weeks later, it was all snatched away from her again.”
Yet despite everything, Rachael says Sofia who she describes as “quite mature for her age” is so strong. “She’s doing amazing, she’s really positive. We’ve been really surprised how she’s just just got on with it really. I think after we got over the initial shock and then we’re like right we need to get on and do this. She just takes it all in her stride really which helps, it gives us strength, seeing how strong she is.”
The brave schoolgirl who loves her three pet axolotls and country music will be admitted later this month to begin intensive conditioning chemo over nine days. This is in preparation for transplant in May after securing a full donor match from Germany, during which time she will be in isolation.
Rachael continued: “We’re lucky they’ve managed to locate a match so quickly and they did have other options as well on the database. They are replacing a whole bone marrow with a donor and a new immune system in the hope that will get rid of the gene and hopefully be a cure for Sofia.”
“We’re just so grateful that they’ve found a donor and that someone would do this because it’s not something we’d really thought of before but then you see how important these registries are. Sofia’s had countless blood transfusions now it makes you aware.
“When we’re through this we want to be blood donors and join the registry as well for the transplant. Sofia is really thoughtful. She even asked if she could be a blood donor, we said ‘you’ve got poorly blood darling, you can’t do that. But she actually donated her hair the first time around before she lost it. She’d seen information on the ward from the little princess trust who provide wigs for children and she said then that she wanted to donate her hair to help others.”
Sofia is having treatment at the Great North Children’s hospital where Rachael says staff have been amazing and provided outstanding care. “They’re really supportive and take time to explain anything if you’re unsure about something. We do feel we are in good hands there and we’re lucky to have that hospital on our doorstep. There’s a lot of parents travelling from Carlisle and Yorkshire.”
When not in isolation Sofia enjoys learning with the hospital play team and teachers – who are in communication with her own school that keeps up to date with work and crafts from class. “She loves the idea that her friends are doing the same as what she’s doing. Her school even included Sofia’s design on a tea towel celebrating the 20th anniversary of a newer building.”
In January Sofia even met Dan Burn on a visit to the ward who played a card game with her. “She absolutely loved it and he has a daughter who’s the same age as Sofia who’s interested in similar things. He was lovely and really down to earth.”
Awaiting the surgery, Rachael’s cousin Jenna – who owns a beauty salon in Ashington – came up with the idea of a fundraiser to support the family whilst offering the public a chance to win prizes. There will also be a fundraising day at The Cherrytree pub in Stakeford on April 18 from 12-5pm with a live raffle draw.
“She wanted to do something to help us out and show Sofia that she’s got a lot of people behind her from the local community. She called a lot of her own contacts. It’s been amazing seeing the support from the local businesses and people who have donated items.”
The funds raised will help the family out with living costs over the next few months. Rachael, an online team member at Arnold Clark and Dominic, a branch secretary on secondment to GMB Union, have been off work since late January.
“We just want to be with Sofia until she’s in a stable place after the transplant. It’s very difficult because we don’t know how long recovery takes and it’s different for each patient. We’ve been told the average is between six and nine months because she’ll have no immune system at all that has to build back up to a certain level before you can return to normal life and back to school and so on. Both our works have both been fantastic but we have come to the point we’ve had so much time off that we’re now on a reduced income.”
Family members and friends will be also be taking part in the Blaydon races and charity skydives raising funds. At last years Durham Minor Gala the GMB Union honoured Sofia while raising for local charity Children’s Cancer North.
“She was absolutely thrilled that they were helping out raising awareness for children going through this. We are very lucky in that sense and have got some lovely friends and family around us, We’re very grateful.” Rachael added. To support Sofia’s fundraiser you can enter the prize draw here.
At Kevin Kararwa Leukaemia Trust, we continue to advocate for better awareness, earlier diagnosis, and support for families navigating life-threatening conditions.
If something doesn’t feel right, trust your instincts and seek medical advice.
Source – chronicle live
