A remarkable girl from Crowborough who successfully defeated cancer is using her experience to help other young people manage their emotions during life’s ups and downs.
Mabel’s world turned upside down when in July 2020, at the age of seven, she was diagnosed with leukaemia. For her and her mum, Nicky Knowles, it was the start of a two-and-a half year nightmarish journey of operations, transfusions, medicines, treatments, fear, ups, downs, and determination.
But it was one that ultimately ended in happiness in December 2022 when Mabel, who is now 12 and a pupil at Beacon Academy, was able to ring the bell to mark the end of her treatment.
Welcome Mabel Mouse
But the pair learnt so much during Mabel’s treatment, they wanted to find a way of sharing this with others. Welcome to Mabel Mouse and her woodland friends.
Nicky, a hair and make-up artist, is also a very gifted artist and together she and Mabel have created a set of beautifully illustrated “Feel Good Cards” featuring Mabel Mouse and friends, offering encouragement and help to anyone having a tough time and facing adversity.
Nicky told Crowborough News: “When I was first told Mabel had leukaemia it was such a massive shock. I can’t really describe it but it felt like everything just stopped. It just seemed so unreal. Life just changed completely in five minutes. It was horrific. Probably the hardest thing was looking at Mabel and knowing that my job as her mum was to look after her and to take care of her. To have that taken out of your hands…you feel so powerless.”
Scared and very sad
Mabel was swiftly taken to hospital in London for specialist treatment and the pair’s ordeal began. “The treatment made me feel really unwell, and so tired.” Mabel said, “But I was also scared, very sad and also just wanted things back to normal.”
Over the next 864 days of treatment Mabel had 27 blood transfusions and 11 platelet transfusions, as well as powerful medicine treatments. But thanks to friends and family, they soldiered on and learnt different ways of coping with the ups and downs.
Nicky said: “We were lucky to have some amazing friends, family and professionals who helped us so much and taught us so much. It became evident that mental well-being was just as crucial for Mabel as the medical treatment. One friend sent Mabel some personalised guided meditations, another set up a Good Vibes Gang for Mabel and her friends – so many people did so much. With their help we were able to devise effective coping strategies that kept us going”
Walked home just crying
And ultimately Mabel’s story is a happy one. She recalls the day Nicky told her the doctors had said her treatment was officially over. “It was so amazing, and also so emotional at the same time. It was as we left school. I was so excited but I also just burst into tears. Me and mum walked home just crying.”
Nicky said that reflecting on the support they had had from friends and professionals, they wanted to find a way to pass it on to everyone else, either in a similar situation or just needing a little self-care.
Manage emotions
The Mabel Mouse cards provide encouragement and support to help children recognise their emotions and manage them. There are words and techniques to keep calm, advice about breathing, talking to others, using your imagination, laughing, being positive, relaxing, finding distractions, facing fears, and so much more.
Nicky’s inspiration for the main character obviously came from Mabel. “When she was born she was only 5lb3oz and was tiny. I called her mouse for a few weeks until we settled on Mabel as her name. But we kept Mouse as her middle name because it meant so much.”
And the characters started to take shape in the children’s chemo treatment rooms at Pembury Hospital where Nicky designed some artwork to encourage and cheer up other patients – a mouse and her woodland friends. “The hospital really loved them and the characters came from there.” Nicky said.
For everyone
She added she hoped the cards would help others. “The thinking behind them obviously helped Mabel when she was so unwell, but they’re not just for sick children. They’re for everyone. I think it’s really important to help children recognise and manage their emotions. There’s so little support for children with their mental health and even if they get a referral they can be on a waiting list for two years – then it could be too late.”
Mabel agreed. She said: “They are all things that helped me, and I hope they will help others too, not just children but anyone really.”
Nicky is selling the cards on her website www.lifeiswild.co.uk and some of the proceeds are being donated to cancer charities. The website also tells you more about these two remarkable and inspirational Crowborough people.