WE ARE TEAM AWESOME!! In January 2016 at the age of 10 Maisie was diagnosed with a brain tumour known as a pilocytic astrocytoma. Bob’ as Maisie named it, sadly lives in her brainstem. She then underwent a 7 hour operation in February 2016 to remove part of the tumour and whilst they were able to remove 80% unfortnately the surgery left her unable to walk, breathe, feed or do anything for herself and she now has to have 24/7 care. Maisie has continued to fight this every step of the way and as always, even during radiotherapy she has continued to smile. In 2018 she underwent 2 further operations following a diagnosis of hydrocephalus (fluid on the brain). We then discovered that ‘bob’ had actually still been growing so in June 2018 she started an 18 month course of weekly chemo to try and halt growth. Chemo finished at the end of November 2019 and the last results show that the tumour has remained the same size since March 2019 which is exactly what we needed to see. Now we have to wait for the next MRI in March 2020 to hope that this remains the same. During November Maisie attended a movement clinic at the NNUH during which she astounded her neuro consultant with the progress of her movements since her last visit in May 2019. She has worked really hard on trying to regain some use of her arms and hands which has meant daily physio with myself and Darrell but the results are amazing. Her consultant very easily agreed that Maisie should be referred to The Children's Trust Rehabilitation Centre in Tadworth, Surrey which were are thrilled to now be waiting for a date to go.

Maisie will always need new equipment, now aged 15, she is still growing but as we have discovered, anything medical comes with a bigger price tag than normal!!

Any donations are gratefully received and all monies raised go to the Team Awesome Appeal to help our girl!!

Together, WE ARE TEAM AWESOME AND WILL BEAT THIS