A grandfather from Lowercroft whose book was inspired by his granddaughter’s devastating cancer journey has raised £3,006 to date for Manchester Foundation Trust Charity through book royalties, the highest the charity has ever received from an author.

The Charity raises vital funds for Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust’s family of ten hospitals which includes Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital.

Sixty-two-year-old Sam Price authored his book, titled ‘Small Boat in a Big Ocean’ for his granddaughter Sorrelle Turnbull, 11, who was diagnosed with infant acute lymphoblastic leukaemia when she was aged just 10 months old in 2015.

Inspired by his family’s experience, the 69,000-word book is composed of real-time messages sent during Sorrelle’s treatment to create a story aimed at helping other families navigate the uncertainty of childhood cancer diagnosis.

Sam presented his latest cheque to the Charity on 22nd December, marking the anniversary of the book’s release. Ninety per cent of the funds raised go directly to support the ward at Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital, with the remaining 10 per cent placed into a trust to support Sorrelle’s future care.

Sorrelle has been staying with Sam and his wife, Jan, for a weekend visit when they noticed that the toddler had become lethargic and had stopped eating. Concerned, he told Sorrelle’s mum, Gemma, to keep an eye on her.

Sam said: “We became worried as Sorrelle had stopped acting like her usual, happy, toddler self. Later that day, Gemma noticed bruises on Sorrelle’s leg. I think it was a pure mother’s instinct. She knew straight away that something was wrong.”

Sorrelle was rushed to hospital, where she was diagnosed with suspected leukaemia and blue lighted to the Oncology Ward at Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital, where the diagnosis was confirmed. She underwent rounds of chemotherapy and two bone marrow transplants, started to suffer kidney failure and had part of her bowel removed.

Sam added: “Sorrelle was put on a trial form of treatment, but unfortunately her little body didn’t behave the way anyone expected it to.

“She went through an awful lot, and although she went into remission by October 2015, that was really only the start of another battle.

“From that point on, she had sepsis, septicaemia, regular viruses treated with antibiotics, and she developed a very severe infection when she had no immune system at all. Of everything she went through, it was the very severe virus that came closest to taking her from us.

“There was a critical stage where we were told that the next 12 hours would determine whether Sorrelle would pull through or not. In the middle of all that chaos, as the head of the household, you think your job is to cure it. Very quickly you realise you can’t. What you can do is be who you’ve always been, grandpa.

“My job became making her giggle and making her smile, because if my daughter could see her own daughter smiling, she could keep going.

“She was an outpatient until 2017, and the day she rang the end-of-treatment bell on the ward is something I’ll never forget. Then, in December 2018, we were told she was completely cancer-free.”

Although Sorrelle was able to fully recover from leukaemia, she now lives with chronic kidney disease, hearing and sight loss and long-term health issues. She also struggles to retain calcium and has been diagnosed with issues with her thyroid.

Remarkably, the 11-year-old also became a world champion, securing a gold medal in the para section of the non-contact Kata at the Martial Arts World Championships last month.
Sam said: “The book has now sold over 1,000 copies, with royalties going to Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital’s oncology and bone marrow wards.

“It is my hope that the book will help to support families who get that dreadful news. It completely catches you off guard and families are left like a rabbit in the headlights. But I was also careful not to make the book frightening. It is a book of hope, family, love and courage above all else.

“I am under no illusion, the reason Sorrelle is here is that hospital, that ward and those specialists. Every single person needs to be in place to make the magic happen, we were really lucky.

“I want to keep giving to the hospital – over Christmas we were fortunate enough to donate £4,000 worth of gifts, toys and even 20 billiard tables which were kindly donated by Smyths Toys.

“Myself and my daughter sadly attended far too many children’s funerals during that time. The book can’t cure cancer; it can at least make the journey more bearable.

“Long after my daughter and Sorrelle aren’t here, that book will still be generating money for Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital.”

‘Small Boat in a Big Ocean’ is currently available to buy from Amazon and Waterstones.

Relationship Officer at Manchester Foundation Trust Charity, Georgia Withers said: “We are incredibly grateful to Sam for turning such a deeply personal experience into lasting support for others, and for his continued commitment to giving back to the hospital that cared for his granddaughter.

“Sorrelle’s story is a powerful reminder of the important work that the care provided at Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital can have.

“Funds raised through ‘Small Boat in a Big Ocean’ will make a real difference to children and families receiving treatment on the oncology and bone marrow wards, helping us to support cutting-edge diagnostic and treatment equipment, pioneering research, and more comfortable, welcoming environments for patients and their families.”