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A 4-month-old baby girl had symptoms of a common cold before her family received a devastating diagnosis.

Rachel-Elizabeth Hewitt and Kevin Aggett’s youngest daughter, Melody, was rushed to Southampton General Hospital in Hampshire, England on April 10, after she was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia. Two days prior, Melody had been taken to Poole Hospital in Dorset, where a doctor thought that she might have bronchiolitisaccording to a GoFundMe page created by Melody’s parents.

“Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a rare cancer that affects your bone marrow and blood. It’s an aggressive cancer that, left untreated, may be life-threatening,” per the Cleveland Clinic.

“AML typically affects people age 60 and older, but it can affect younger adults and children,” the site adds.

Baby Melody’s story was told on the Cancer Support U.K. websitewith the post explaining how she’d developed a cold the month of her diagnosis, but her parents did not suspect “that their little girl’s snuffles would be anything out of the ordinary.”

“However, when the cold affected Melody’s breathing — she (became) so bunged up she was unable to breastfeed properly — alarm bells started to ring,” the charity wrote.

After Melody went 12 hours without a single wet diaper, Hewitt recalled taking her to their local hospital.

“The first consultant thought it was bronchiolitis, which can cause breathing problems. They wanted to send Melody home. Luckily she was seen by another consultant who fitted Melody with a nasogastric (NG) tube (used to deliver hydration or medication directly into the stomach via the nose and throat) and kept her in overnight. The next day Melody was examined by yet another consultant, who ordered a GAS test (used to measure carbon dioxide levels to show a baby’s respiratory condition),” she said.

Further tests were done after the GAS test results came back, and an hour later, doctors told the family that Melody had leukemia.

The post stated, “Medical intervention began immediately. Melody was given a platelet transfusion before being transferred to a Paediatric Intensive Care unit in Southampton. There she spent 30 days in intensive care, involving two weeks on a ventilator and two rounds of chemotherapy.”

The family later learned that Melody had AML, which is an extremely rare and fast-developing type of blood cancer. The infant was transferred to Great Ormond Street Hospital in London, where she underwent a bone marrow procedure.

Hewitt recalled the moment Melody received the diagnosis, telling Cancer Support U.K., “It didn’t feel real. I was so shocked, I had to ask the consultant to repeat her words. Hearing those words was like a stabbing pain in my heart.”

Cancer Support U.K. said that “despite the intensity of Melody’s different treatments — including blood and platelet transfusions, conditioning chemo, and numerous medication — Rachel has managed to breastfeed her daughter throughout, providing a comforting and reassuring presence.”

Hewitt shared, “We do as much as possible with Melody – playing with her and giving lots of cuddles and love. She’s an inspiration, because she’s smiled and giggled throughout, whereas I have cried continuously. She’s such a fighter even when feeling poorly.”

Amid her treatment, Melody has enjoyed spending time with her four older siblings — Felicity, 2, Liberty, 6, and 10-year-old twins Tom and Iz — who regularly visit her at Great Ormond Street Hospital.

“We are heartbroken. This is every parent’s worst nightmare, and we are still trying to process how this has happened to our little girl at just 4 months old,” Hewitt wrote on GoFundMe of the diagnosis.

Per a Friday, Nov. 7 update on GoFundMe, Hewitt explained that the family was approaching 100 nights at the hospital in London, writing that Melody would have to undergo several more tests over the coming weeks and had been “battling acute Graft Versus Host Disease (GVHD), one of the most serious complications following a bone marrow transplant.”

“She has now started an immunotherapy treatment to try to control the GVHD. This treatment can last for several months or even longer, and we are praying it achieves the outcome she needs,” Hewitt explained, adding, “Her most recent bone marrow aspiration produced unexpected results that have left her Consultants confused, they have never seen results like this before.”

“Because of this, the medical team must now develop a new protocol and consult with worldwide experts to determine the next steps in Melody’s treatment plan,” Hewitt shared. “The road ahead is still uncertain, and sadly, it looks to be a long and challenging one for our little girl.”

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The message, which was signed by Melody’s family, continued, “We want to take this moment to say a heartfelt thank you to everyone who has donated, shared, or sent words of support. The funds we have received so far have been a lifeline, helping us cover bills and manage daily life while we are unable to work.”

“If you are able to donate, it would truly mean the world to us and our family. Every single donation, no matter how big or small, makes a real difference and helps us stay by Melody’s side while she continues to fight,” the family added.

The GoFundMe page had raised almost $17,800 as of Friday, Nov. 14. PEOPLE has reached out to Hewitt for an update.