Family of Ava Bolton 'blown away' by influx of donations to help save daughter's life
3-year-old Ava Bolton has Nueroblastoma, a form of nerve tissue cancer, and her family are fundraising to get her a vaccine in America.
Last updated 5th May 2023
An Ayrshire family fundraising for lifesaving medical treatment for their daughter say they’ve been amazed with the generosity shown by their community so far.
Scott and Natalie Bolton’s daughter Ava was diagnosed with a form of nerve tissue cancer last December after the couple started noticing her health declining in the run up to her birthday before Christmas.
The family from Mauchline were devastated by the news that Ava had Neuroblastoma.
Since then, 3-year-old Ava has been undergoing constant treatment and nothing is guaranteed to save her life.
However, the family have been given hope by a new vaccine that’s been developed in America and started fundraising to give their daughter a fighting chance.
First, Ava has to complete at least another 18 months of intensive chemotherapy, radiotherapy, immunotherapy, and stem cell transplants before she can get the vaccine.
They’ve so far raised just under £50,000 but need to hit the £250,000 mark to travel to and from New York to receive the vaccine for Ava, as it’s not available on the NHS in the UK.
Scott and Natalie are telling Clyde 1 how Ava has faced her treatment head on in her own unique way and how grateful they are to everyone who has donated so far.
Scott Bolton said: “To Ava, she has a monster in her tummy, a monster that she has named Cali. Her brother is 5 and he has the same understanding, and she is going through all this treatment to get rid of the monster.
“The funds raised will allow Ava to travel to receive the vaccine. The vaccine they have developed over in America trains the immune system to fight off neuroblastoma cells if they return, and that would stop any cancers growing within her.
“We’re feeling strong and positive so far with how everything is progressing with her.
“The amount of medication she has had and hospital stays where she is stuck to a bed for weeks not being able to leave the room due to being hooked up to machines injecting medicine into her, her attitude has been incredible with how well she has handled this.
“Kids just get on with it, and adults could learn a lot of lessons from them.
The support we’ve had from the local community and local business in this fundraiser so far as been incredible we are blown away with it.”
Natalie Bolton added: “I just want to say thank you so much to everyone who’s donated so far. We have a wonderful community behind us and we couldn’t do this without their support.”