Patient Ivy meets Anthony Gordon
Updated: February 7th, 2025
An Unforgettable Day for Ivy: A Special Moment with Anthony Gordon
For Ivy, a day she will never forget came when she had the incredible opportunity to meet and spend time with Premier League and England footballer Anthony Gordon. The day was filled with excitement as Anthony played football with Ivy, engaging in a fun match and taking the time to listen as she enthusiastically shared stories about her favourite activities. Ivy beamed with joy as she told Anthony about her love for football, especially the games she plays with her daddy @Sam and little brother.
The day became even more special when Anthony asked Ivy to show him her favourite goal celebration. Ivy was thrilled to teach him her signature move: a joyful cartwheel. Anthony, ever the good sport, promised that if he scored a goal in his next match, he would celebrate in Ivy’s honour with the #ivysCartwheel. The moment was truly heartwarming, and Ivy’s excitement was contagious.
But this heartwarming meeting is not just about football, it’s about Ivy’s remarkable journey and the life saving transplant that helped her along the way. Ivy underwent a haplo transplant, a type of stem cell transplant that uses stem cells from a family member whose tissue type is only a partial match. This transplant offers a broader pool of potential donors and was made possible thanks to Ivy’s dad, who was her donor. His generous gift has given Ivy a chance at a future she would not have had otherwise.
Ivy’s mother, Selina Dixon, shared an emotional message on social media to thank her partner and the team at the Bubble Foundation: “CELL DAY!!! Thank you to our girls' life saviour, her biggest fan—her DADDY! The cells were taken and given to our precious girl for transplant day. My god, how long it felt waiting for this day. So proud of you, love you so much, babe. Thank you to @thebubbleuk and the amazing team who kept us sane throughout this journey.”
Ivy’s transplant on Ward 3, supported by the Bubble Foundation, has been a crucial part of her recovery. The foundation’s dedication to children with rare and serious conditions, like the one Ivy faced, has provided crucial support for families navigating these challenging experiences. For Ivy and her family, it’s been a journey of hope, resilience, and community, made even more memorable by the incredible support of a football star like Anthony Gordon.
GO IVY!