On the 2nd of September 2011, our world fell apart. A scan at our local hospital hinted that our beautiful daughter Maisie had some type of 'obstruction' in her brain causing a build up of fluid. She was immediately transferred to Birmingham Children's Hospital under the care of the neurosurgeons, where an MRI scan on the 3rd confirmed the worst. It was a tumour. 

Monday the 5th, was the longest and hardest day of our lives. They operated on her for 14 hours and successfully removed the majority of it. 4 days later we got the amazing news that it was benign. God was smiling on us that day.

However she had a long and stormy post-op time, with lots of brain swelling and weeks of uncertainty. They told us it could be months before she improved. She couldn't talk and barely moved to begin with.

Well they were wrong! Nobody told Maisie and she had other ideas! A few short weeks later she was home, walking, talking, singing and dancing, enjoying life and back to school. Determination and will power has got her where she is today. And boy is she determined. Her Daddy has promised her that he'll have her running with her friends if its the last thing he does. And she will!!!

We are desperate to give back something to the neurosurgical unit after the fantastic care and dedication shown by the staff there, particularly her surgeon. They need an 'Intra-operative' MRI scanner which is vital for kids like Maisie to ensure they get as much if not all of their tumours out. At present, kids who have tricky tumours and need this type of scan have to travel to Liverpool to have surgery. That is very traumatic for a family at a time of immense trauma anyway. Had Maisies tumour not been benign, things may have been very different and she may well have needed to travel for her op.

Her Daddy and 8 of his colleagues are cycling from London to Brighton on the 17th of March to kick off our fundraising events. Please, please dig deep and allow us to get the unit on its way to purchase this important piece of equipment. All money raised goes specifically to the MRI scanner and Ward 10.

Many thanks for your kindness

Cliona, Martyn and Maisie Snow

 

UPDATE!

January 2012

Maisie is now back in school fulltime! She's also back swimming, doing her ballet class and learning how to play the guitar. Her MRI scan on the 28th of December showed her tumour bed remains clear, the swelling around her brainstem is gone and her shunt is working really well.

March 2012

A school friend of Maisie's, Joey, who has also recently had a brain tumour and his family are helping us fundraise for the scanner. A local paper, the Kidderminster Shuttle have agreed to write a story about them and help us raise awareness. Also we are making crafts...cushions, wheatbags, lavender bags, bunting and more available for purchase, with all proceeds going directly to the appeal. Photos of these are below. Anyone interested in buying any of the above please email cliona_l@hotmail.com and all prices, details of sizes and materials will be forwarded.

 

 

 

Again, thank you all for your time and donations, we are extremely grateful and remember you are literally saving kids lives.