Thanks to players of People's Postcode Lottery, Rosie was granted her wish

During lockdown, when Rosie was just nine years old, she noticed her right knee was extremely sore, which was impacting her active lifestyle.

“She’s always been very active,” explained her Mum, Sarah. “She loved trampolining and gymnastics. We live near the beach, and she loved doing cartwheels across the sand. She was limping and it never got better. The bend was noticeable and she wasn’t able to straighten her leg.”

Although the GP initially diagnosed the issue as growing pains and offered over-the-counter remedies, there was little improvement. Rosie’s mum was concerned and decided to take her to A&E for a second opinion.

On an ordinary day in September, an X-ray revealed the life-altering diagnosis of osteosarcoma, which marked the beginning of a difficult chapter for the family.

"She started chemotherapy in October and had her knee replacement just two weeks before Christmas,” said Mum. “She had to get a prosthetic knee. We were lucky we could save her leg, but she’s never been able to regain the bend in her knee.”

After chemotherapy, the family believed the worst was over but in February 2022 they received the devastating news that the cancer had spread to her lungs and she had to have another operation.

It has now been six years since Rosie was first diagnosed and she is thankfully doing much better these days. In the past, she travelled frequently to Oxford to get her knee lengthened but, as this has now stabilised, the family only need to travel up once a year, as well as for general checks every six months.

Whilst Rosie was undergoing treatment, the family was referred to Make-A-Wish by referral partner LATCH.

During her time in treatment, Rosie spent a lot of time either stuck in hospital or at home with her mum and brothers. It was easy to feel isolated, especially using her mum’s old hand-me-down phone. When she found out she was getting a wish, she opted for a brand-new iPhone, which turned into a lifeline for keeping in touch with her friends and family, especially as she was often travelling to Oxford or Cardiff.

“It had a huge impact,” said Mum, reflecting on the importance of Rosie’s wish. “As a single parent, I wasn’t in a position to buy her a new iPhone outright. It kept her feeling like part of a group.”

A special thank you to the wonderful players of People's Postcode Lottery for their incredible generosity in 2025!

With their support, more children living with critical illnesses, just like Rosie, have been able to experience the magic of a wish. We’re excited for the impact we’ll continue to make together in the months ahead in 2026.