Making Memories: Millie's story

Millie's parents explain how Chestnut Tree House helped them make memories in their final days together.

Donate to help us keep making memories Read Millie's story

At 14, Millie and her family received some devastating news – Millie had a brain tumour. The cancer treatment was tough, but at Chestnut Tree House she was able to be a teenager again rather than a patient.

The House became somewhere Millie loved – where she enjoyed pizza-making evenings, pamper days, laughter and friendship. When the tumour returned and there were no more treatment options, the team helped the family make precious memories together, and enabled Millie to face the end of her life on her own terms – with extraordinary courage.

Give today

Your donation can give more families precious time together when it matters most.

Millie’s story

Images and words kindly shared by Millie’s parents, Shelley and James

millie underwater in a swimming pool. She is dressed in a purple mermaid tail and sticking her tongue out at the camera

Our incredible daughter Millie was funny, feisty and spirited

She loved her brothers, Jacob and Harry. Constantly on the go, she would take out lampshades as she danced through the house.

At 14, Millie started having terrible headaches and being sick. We were back and forth to the GP. An MRI scan came back normal. We clung to that reassurance.

However, Millie became increasingly unwell and couldn’t walk without holding onto someone. Growing frustrated and frightened, she kept saying, “There’s something wrong with me, and everyone keeps telling me it’s in my head.”

Another scan finally gave us the answer we’d been dreading: Millie had a brain tumour. She underwent major surgery to remove as much of it as possible. We were scared – but Millie faced it with the bravery that defined her.

Radiotherapy was meant to follow, but she was too unwell. Each time we thought it couldn’t get any worse, something else came along.

At her first radiotherapy session, Millie broke down in tears. Yet somehow, through weeks of radiotherapy and then chemotherapy, she was an absolute warrior, making everyone laugh and making friends with the nurses. She made the best of an unbearable situation.

Our community nurses suggested we contact Chestnut Tree House. Millie’s first reaction was heartbreakingly honest, “That’s where people go to die. And I’m not going to die.”

Millie and her Chestnut nurse Leanne bonded instantly, and the House became somewhere Millie loved. A place where she was more than her illness. There were pizza-making evenings, pamper days, laughter and friendship.

Can you help us keep caring for families like Millie's?

Please, make a gift today so we can continue making memories for the children and families we support.

Yes, I'll make a gift today

Millie sitting on a aeroplane, smiling at the camera

By July 2023, when her oncologist told us she was cancer-free, we dared to dream again

We booked the trip we’d promised her – Disneyworld. It was magical. Millie was improving – smiling constantly – and she even walked independently while we were away. After everything she’d endured, it felt like we had our girl back.

Weeks later, however, her eyesight began to fail. Tests confirmed what no parent ever wants to hear. The tumour had returned – it was massive. There were no more treatment options.

What do you do when you’re told your child is going to die? We rang Leanne and said, “we need help”. Chestnut was there immediately. They helped Millie make choices, make memories and face the unimaginable with courage.

Millie and her family dressed in smart clothes. She is wearing a blonde wig and a flower crown

Within a day of being given her terminal diagnosis, Millie began planning a celebration of her life

She didn’t see the point of a funeral after she was gone. She wanted to be there, to see the people she loved gather together.

“I’m never going to get married,” she said, “so I want to walk down the aisle, and exchange rings with you and my brothers, Jacob and Harry.” A family friend made beautiful silver rings and a necklace engraved with Millie’s name.

We held a service filled with her favourite songs, and childhood photos lighting up a big screen. There was laughter, tears and dancing. Millie smiled all day.

I’ll help families in our local community to continue making memories together

Your donation will help ensure other families facing the most devastating news of their lives are not left to cope alone.

Yes, I'll make a gift today

A few days later, she spent time making mementos for family and friends. For a moment, she seemed better – more like herself than she had in months. But that night she woke up in unbearable pain. We called Chestnut. A nurse came out straight away and stayed with Millie until the early hours of the morning.

The following evening, they returned. When Millie’s younger brother, Harry, was overwhelmed with grief and fear, one of the nurses sat up all night with her arm around him until he finally fell asleep. I truly don’t know what we would have done without them.

Just three short weeks after being given her terminal diagnosis, our beautiful Millie died. She was only 18. She leaves a gaping hole in our hearts.

After her death, Chestnut offered us the Stars bereavement suite. We were so grateful as we couldn’t bear the thought of her being alone at the undertakers. They played her celebration playlist every day. Our keyworker, Helen, visited daily and lovingly helped prepare Millie for her funeral.

When the worst happened, they were there for us – practically, emotionally, unconditionally.

We’ll keep supporting Chestnut in Millie’s memory. Your support will help families to keep making memories together.