An 18-year-old cancer survivor from Birmingham has raised more than £3,500 for the hospital that treated her by completing a tandem skydive. Jasmine Kalirai took on the challenge to celebrate being declared cancer-free, five years after being diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma at Birmingham Children's Hospital when she was just 13.
According to the NHS, Hodgkin lymphoma is an uncommon cancer that affects white blood cells which help fight infection. Jasmine first noticed something was wrong when she found an unexplained lump on her neck and visited her doctor. She was then rushed to her local hospital and transferred to Birmingham Children's Hospital's paediatric unit for an ultrasound and PET scan.
A Challenging Diagnosis During the Pandemic
It was there that Jasmine received the news she had Hodgkin's lymphoma. The teenager struggled to process the diagnosis, and with the pandemic ongoing at the time, restrictions meant only one parent could stay with her. Birmingham Children's Hospital Charity described this as a 'challenging and isolating time' for Jasmine, but with the support of her family and hospital staff, she was able to get through it.
Jasmine said: “The consultants were brilliant. They calmed me down and helped me feel like I could do this. I was a very anxious child and quite shy, but the nurses really put me at ease, giving me time and not making me talk when I didn’t want to. They treated me amazingly.”
She underwent chemotherapy to treat the cancer and was monitored continuously for the next five years. This year, she was told she was cancer-free, prompting her to commit to a skydive to raise funds for the hospital that provided vital support.
Raising Funds and Facing the Jump
Discussing the "amazing feeling" of seeing donations come in, Jasmine said: "It was such an amazing feeling to see people donating. I was so excited, checking my donation page every day, and seeing friends and strangers chipping in to help."
She added: "The skydive was really good, I wasn’t nervous at all, and when we reached the ground, I couldn’t believe I’d done it. I’m so grateful to my friends for supporting me, and I’ll always do anything to help Birmingham Children’s Hospital."
In total, Jasmine raised £3,500 for the hospital. Annie Eytle, Head of Public Fundraising at Birmingham Children's Hospital Charity, said: "To receive a cancer diagnosis at 13 years old is so tough and we’re absolutely thrilled that Jasmine’s been declared cancer free. She has such a determined, positive spirit, and we’re awed by her support. The money she’s raised will make a real difference to our patients going through the toughest times."
