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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Ben Turner & Alahna Kindred

Mum of terminally ill girl, 7, with days to live can't afford to put heating on in home

The mum of a terminally ill girl "with days to live" says she's using a wood burner and heated blankets to keep her daughter warm as she can't afford to keep the heating on.

Little Anastasia Hazell, seven, was given just one year to leave after she was diagnosed with an incurable brain tumour last March.

As her condition continues to deteriorate, mum Alexandra Hazell, 35, says she is struggling to keep the heating on at their home village near Great Yarmouth, Norfolk.

She's described how she is trying to give Anastasia the comfort she deserves in her final days by using a wood burner to keep her warm through the night as well as heated blankets.

Are you able to help Alexandra and Anastasia? Donate to the little girl's cause via the family's verified GoFundMe page here

Alexandra Hazell, 35, is struggling to heat her home as Anastasia is in her final days (James Linsell-Clark / SWNS)
Alexandra says she's using a wood burner and heated blankets to keep her daughter warm through the night (James Linsell-Clark / SWNS)

Alexandra said: "The cost of living has just skyrocketed. We've had to turn the heating off twice.

"We just want to spend time with her but all my time is spent worrying about this."

The once "healthy and popular" schoolgirl has a Diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) tumour - which is highly aggressive and difficult to treat.

Anastasia is unable to speak or walk and has to eat through a feeding tube.

Alexandra Hazell, 35, and husband James Hazell, 35, with son Ryker, 3, and seven-year-old daughter Anastasia Hazell (James Linsell-Clark / SWNS)

The little girl is in her final days as doctors didn't think she would live past March.

Anastasia is currently at home surrounded by family and supported by nurses, so the family can spend precious time with her instead of having her in hospital.

She is living with mum Alexandra, dad James, 35, and little brother Ryker, three.

Alexandra, a support worker, said: "Anastasia is getting towards the end and we're still having to rattle around for money.

Anastasia was diagnosed with an incurable brain tumour last March (James Linsell-Clark / SWNS)

"Our heating has gone off twice as we've run out of oil. It's just impossible.

"It got so bad we were all camped in her room with a wood burner. We were throwing wood on the fire to make the room warm enough to get through the night.

"The other time we ran out of oil we were having to put heated blankets on Anastasia because she was turning blue.

Alexandra says life is becoming impossible (James Linsell-Clark / SWNS)

"We haven't been able to give her a warm bath or shower sometimes. It's crazy.

"There are weeks when we can't afford basic things.

"We put away £1,000 for last Christmas but that was eaten up beforehand by food and heating costs."

Anastasia was described as a healthy girl before the devastating diagnosis last March, a week after her sixth birthday.

Alexandra says the heating has already shut off twice (James Linsell-Clark / SWNS)

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Doctors said that Anastasia's tumour was incurable and gave her around 12 months to live.

Alexandra said: "Anastasia was a perfectly normal girl. She was doing really well in school.

"She was a singer and dancer. Totally healthy and normal girl.

"She had a lot of friends and was one of the more popular girls in class.

"The diagnosis came completely out of nowhere. We noticed one day that she was a bit weak on one side.

"The doctors found a tumour and she was rushed to Addenbrooke's Hospital. That's when her whole life changed.

"She's just so poorly. Last night she was struggling to breathe.

"I'm thinking how many more days are we going to have. It's a nightmare."

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