North Middlesex University Hospital NHS Trust’s amazing Rainbow Ward team has won a well-deserved award from a national kids’ cancer charity.

The team on our children’s ward proudly received the Solving Kids’ Cancer UK Hero?Award after being nominated by a patient and her family.

Five-year-old Daya (pictured) was cared for at North Mid throughout her three-year journey with stage four metastatic neuroblastoma – a rare type of cancer that mostly affects babies and young children.

During this time, Daya and her family spent some of their toughest times in Rainbow Ward.

But now in remission, the family nominated the Rainbow team due to the care and support they received and ultimately saving her life.

Daya’s mum, Pam, shared this touching statement: “Home away from home, each and every one of you helped this little girl to beat cancer. Day and night, month after month, which turned into years; you all worked hand in hand to monitor, manage, administer, amuse, distract, provide and most importantly care for little Daya.

“We have been in every paediatric department at North Middlesex but it was ‘Hotel’ Rainbow where we spent the most difficult and heartbreaking of times.

“You made us laugh, you shared our tears and our fears, she became your rainbow daughter. She learnt to walk and talk in hospital, you always greeted us with a smile and sometimes a cheer. We have all been through so much together and words fail me to truly explain the torture, trauma and suffering we have all experienced, especially Daya.

“Neuroblastoma treatment is just as awful and aggressive as the cancer itself.

“I know you have so much love for us as a family and especially Daya. This award is an acknowledgment of all your exceptional hard work, dedication and care.

“You are all amazing, nurses, doctors, HCAs, pharmacists, cleaners and housekeepers. Thank you.”

Clare Oliver, Rainbow Ward manager, thanked the family for their amazing words and said: “We would like to say a big thank you to Daya and her family for nominating us for this wonderful award of recognition and thank you to the Solving Kids’ Cancer charity too.

“It means so much to the team. We have been part of Daya’s journey for a really really long time now. Not only have we got to know the family but they have got to know us and they have become part of the Rainbow family.”

Gail Jackson, CEO of Solving Kids' Cancer UK, also said: "Our SKC Hero Awards recognise and honour special people who make a positive difference to the lives of families in the neuroblastoma community.

"We're so grateful to everyone in the Rainbow Ward and everything they do, and have done, to support Daya and her family. They are truly heroes!"