In October 2016, 11-year-old Mia was taken to hospital with stomach pains and weakness in her legs. A scan revealed a mass on her spine and within hours Mia was transferred to Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital and underwent surgery to remove some of the mass. Unfortunately surgery revealed that the mass was in fact one of five cancerous tumours, two in her brain and three on her spine. Surgeons worked for 9 hours to remove part of the largest tumour, however it wasn’t until Mia woke up that they learnt the full extent of Mia’s condition. Due to surgery Mia lost the use of both of her legs and feet, bladder and bowels, a devastating diagnosis for Mia, her friends and family.
Mia is such a strong individual and will not give up without a fight. Twice a day she has physiotherapy. This includes floor work, learning to shift from wheelchair to a chair, swimming and recently using bars to try and walk. Mia has made amazing progress in such a short space of time, gaining movement to one of her feet.

Hopefully we can raise enough to help with essential house modifications to aid in the movement around her new home as her present home which they love is unadaptable, she has to sleep in the living room with no access to the upstairs therefore can't have a bath/shower, so unfortunately it's bed baths for her and a house move for the family.
Mia was asked to comment on her journey to recovery, she said “It’s been a world wind… literally.”

In the cover photograph Mia is holding a few of her beads of courage, she does in fact have many more, each one signifies a treatment she has undergone, be it chemotherapy, radium therapy, scans, x-rays etc.

Despite everything she has gone through she is still smiling.

Please dig deep and help support this remarkable young lady and her family.

Thank you for your support.