Sophie's Legacy Podcast

This episode of the Sophie's Legacy Podcast is a very special one, as we welcome our brilliant child ambassador, Jacob, into the studio!

Jacob has spent a huge amount of his childhood in hospital, so who better to tell us what it's really like for children who spend so much time on the wards?

From hospital food and the importance of having more choice, to play, accessible facilities and making sure parents are looked after too, Jacob shares his experiences, his ideas and the things he believes need to change.

He also tells us about his love of Spider-Man, his incredible imagination, his passion for Lego and gaming, and the adventures he hopes to enjoy when he's out of hospital - including Disney and Legoland!

But most importantly, Jacob reminds us of something we should never forget: children deserve to be listened to. They know what matters to them, and their voices should help shape their experiences of hospital care.

We're incredibly proud to have Jacob as our child ambassador, and we hope you'll enjoy hearing from him as much as we enjoyed having him with us.

A huge thank you to Voice FM for welcoming us into their wheelchair-accessible studio and helping us make this special episode happen.

🎧 Listen, share and help us spread Jacob's message.

💛 Find out more about Sophie's Legacy or support our work: https://sophieslegacy.org.uk

What does a hospital play specialist actually do? And why are they so important to children in hospital?In this episode of the Sophie’s Legacy Podcast, Charlotte is joined by Chloe, a Healthcare Play Specialist from Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, to shine a light on a role that is so much more than simply playing with children.Chloe talks about her journey from being a teenage patient herself to becoming a play specialist, the training involved and what a typical day can look like - from preparing children for blood tests, surgery and MRI scans to supporting children through long-term treatment.They also explore how play can reduce anxiety, prevent trauma, help children cope with procedures and even avoid the need for sedation or repeat appointments.Chloe shares the emotional side of the role too: becoming a trusted person for children and families, supporting children through incredibly difficult journeys and dealing with the loss of patients you have grown to know and love.Charlotte also shares memories of the difference Sophie’s play team made during her treatment and why Sophie believed so strongly that play specialists should be an essential part of every children’s ward.Because play in hospital isn’t a luxury. For children, it is part of their care.🎧 Listen to hear why hospital play deserves to be recognised, protected and properly funded.

Why is childhood cancer so difficult to diagnose - and what should parents actually be looking out for?

In this episode of the Sophie’s Legacy Podcast, Charlotte is joined by Dr Sharna Shanmugavadivel, a paediatric doctor whose work has focused on improving the diagnosis of childhood cancer.

Dr Sharna began working with Professor David Walker on the HeadSmart campaign, helping to improve diagnosis times for children with brain tumours, before going on to research diagnosis across other childhood cancers. Most recently, she served as Vice Chair of the Children and Young People’s Cancer Taskforce.

Together, Charlotte and Dr Sharna talk about why childhood cancers are so different from adult cancers, why their symptoms can be so difficult to recognise and the key things parents should look out for - including persistent, changing or progressing symptoms and that incredibly important parental gut instinct.

They also discuss Charlotte’s own experience of knowing something wasn’t right with Sophie, the importance of parents feeling able to speak up, research and funding, and the work that has taken place to finally give children and young people a dedicated voice within the National Cancer Plan.

This is an incredibly informative conversation for parents, healthcare professionals and anyone who wants to better understand childhood cancer - and what needs to change.

Please follow and share the Sophie’s Legacy Podcast to help us raise awareness and reach more families 💛

At just 14 years old, Katherine was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia after weeks of unexplained symptoms and severe bleeding.

After chemotherapy put her into remission, Katherine returned to school and tried to rebuild her life. But at 17, the cancer returned — and this time, treatment meant aggressive chemotherapy, total body radiotherapy and a bone marrow transplant.

In this episode of the Sophie’s Legacy Podcast, Katherine joins Charlotte to talk openly about diagnosis, relapse and the reality of undergoing a transplant as a teenager — but also about something that is spoken about far less: what happens after cancer.

Now 34, Katherine shares the long-term effects of her treatment, being told she was infertile, going through the menopause as a teenager, developing further health complications and, against the odds, becoming a mum to two boys with the help of her sister.

And in an incredible full-circle moment, Katherine now works in cancer clinical trials and experimental cancer medicine, helping research the treatments of the future.

An honest, fascinating and incredibly important conversation about childhood cancer, survivorship and the life that comes afterwards 💛

When a child finishes cancer treatment, everyone wants to celebrate.

The treatment is over. Their hair grows back. They go back to school. Life gets back to “normal”.

But what happens next?

In this episode of the Sophie’s Legacy Podcast, Charlotte is joined by Kirsty, whose daughter Lily was diagnosed with a rare, undifferentiated soft tissue sarcoma at just nine years old.

Kirsty talks openly about Lily’s diagnosis during the Covid pandemic, gruelling chemotherapy, surgery and radiotherapy, as well as the isolation of spending so much of her treatment in hospital with only one parent allowed beside her.

But this episode also explores something we don't talk about enough: the lifelong impact of childhood cancer treatment.

Now doing brilliantly, Lily continues to live with the consequences of the treatment that saved her life, including premature ovarian failure, problems with bone growth and the increased risk of developing another cancer in the future.

Kirsty also shares what life was like for the whole family, the emotional impact of finishing treatment, and the practical things that genuinely helped when their world was turned upside down.

An honest, warm and important conversation about childhood cancer - and why ringing the bell isn't always the end of the story.

In this deeply moving episode of the Sophie’s Legacy Podcast, Charlotte is joined by Eve to share the story of her daughter, Tona.

Tona was just 14 when she was diagnosed with stage four Hodgkin lymphoma. What followed were years of treatment, relapse, a stem cell transplant and devastating complications, but throughout it all, Tona remained fiercely herself.

Funny, determined, outspoken and endlessly independent, Tona learned to advocate for herself and challenged the adults around her to listen, explain and give her choices.

At 17, after spending almost two years in hospital and facing further treatment with no guarantee of the life she wanted, Tona made an extraordinarily difficult decision about her own care.

This is a powerful conversation about childhood cancer, the impact of treatment, quality of life and the importance of listening to young people when decisions are being made about their bodies and their futures.

Above all, it is Tona’s story - told because she wanted her voice to be heard 💜

⚠️ This episode contains discussion of childhood cancer, intensive treatment, end-of-life care and the death of a child.

This week, Charlotte is joined by Caroline Dinenage MP to look back at an extraordinary journey that began just 10 days after Sophie died.

Before Sophie had even had her funeral, Charlotte walked into Caroline’s constituency office with one determination: what had happened to Sophie could not be allowed to keep happening to other children.

What followed was years of campaigning, meetings with Health Secretaries, the first ever debate on children’s cancer on the floor of the House of Commons, the creation – and later cancellation – of the Children and Young People Cancer Taskforce, and a refusal from Charlotte and Caroline to let the work disappear.

Together they talk about the battles behind the scenes, the moments when it felt like everything they had worked for could be lost, and the persistence it took to keep pushing for change.

That persistence ultimately helped lead to something historic: a dedicated children and young people’s chapter within the Government’s Cancer Plan.

It’s a conversation about where the campaign began, what it really took to get this far and why, when it comes to improving cancer care for children and young people, neither Charlotte nor Caroline intends to take their eye off the ball.

And, of course, what can happen when two very determined women refuse to take no for an answer. 💛

This week, Charlotte is joined by her best friend Vicky, who is also Sophie’s godmother.

Together they talk about their friendship, Vicky’s memories of Sophie and what it means to support someone you love through unimaginable grief – including navigating the moments when there simply aren’t any words that can make things better.

They also talk about the incredible thing Vicky and her family are doing for Sophie’s Legacy: raffling their two beautiful coastal lighthouse cottages at Cantick Head in Orkney, with Sophie’s Legacy set to benefit.

It’s a very personal conversation about friendship, grief, memories, laughter and the people who stay beside you through it all. 💛

In Episode 12, Charlotte is joined by Stevie, mum to Jamie, Jackson and Summer, to talk about her experiences of life as a NICU mum.

Stevie first found herself in NICU with Jamie, before returning years later with twins Summer and Jackson. She shares the very different experiences of each NICU journey, the emotions and uncertainty that came with them, and what life looked like for their family during those times.

Charlotte and Stevie also talk about something that can often be overlooked - life after NICU. From finally bringing your baby home to adjusting to a new normal, Stevie reflects on how the experience can stay with you long after you leave the hospital.

A heartfelt conversation about NICU, motherhood, family and everything that comes afterwards. 💛

Today would have been Sophie’s 15th birthday, and in this episode Charlotte is joined by Sophie’s big sister, Lucy.

Lucy talks about Sophie, their relationship as sisters, some of her memories and what life has been like since losing her.

They also talk honestly about grief and why it’s so important to be able to talk about the person you’ve lost. Lucy shares her own experience of learning to live with grief, and how being able to talk about Sophie helps to keep her part of their lives.

It’s a really honest, beautiful conversation about sisters, memories, grief, and of course, Sophie.

And of course, we couldn’t let Lucy leave without spilling a little tea on the celebrities they met at the Pride of Britain Awards!

We hope you enjoy listening and getting to know a little more about Lucy; Sophie’s beloved big sister. 💛