Mimi was a happy, healthy and loving sister and daughter who loved life but her world was turned upside-down when she was diagnosed with an aggressive bone cancer shortly after her 11th birthday.

Following diagnosis, it was hoped that her leg could be saved, however, in early 2016 the surgical team decided that Mimi’s best chance of complete removal of all cancer would be an above knee amputation. Mimi and her family had only a few days to accept this life shattering event. She stoically coped with the surgery and 9 months of horrendous, intensive chemotherapy followed by a course of Immunology treatment. Mimi has x-rays and reviews every 2 months to check for recurrence.

Once treatment ceases its assumed that life returns to normal but not so for Mimi. Chemotherapy caused her non-recoverable hearing loss. Other unforeseen long terms effects that haven’t raised their head yet will also impact upon her future health (heart, liver, kidney and reproductive function).

Mimi’s everyday struggle is her mobility and the psychological impact of this and her cancer diagnosis. At just 11 years old she has had to cope with with a cancer diagnosis, the awful treatment that currently is offered to fight it, as well as loss of independence, confidence and a whole year of schooling. She is learning to walk with a prosthetic limb, although this is not a comfortable or easy thing to do. The prosthetic journey is long and arduous and a psychological / physical battle.

Mimi remains a loving sister and daughter but her future is uncertain and vastly different. She has battles ahead of her that we can only imagine. With these battles in mind, her family have set up a trust (The Fancy Footwork Trust) for her future financial needs (prosthetic limb, wheelchair and adaptive technology). The Trust is aimed solely at assisting her with the provision of the best technological advances and support available so that she can live as normal life as can be possible for a young amputee.