In April 2005 Mia was a bright, funny, cheeky, intelligent, good natured little 3 year old. Her whole life in front of her and she had no cares in the world. She lived at home with me, her mum, in a two bedroom flat in Port Talbot, South Wales. Mia had no brothers or sisters, so you can imagine Mia never went without and everyone in the family would spoil her rotten.
At this time, Mia began to show the first signs of her illness. Mia was sick every other day. I took her to Doctor's, he suggested that it was a 24 hour ‘bug’ and not to worry. As the days passed by, the ‘bug’ didn't go away. One minute Mia was fine, the next she was sick, this went on for about two weeks.
The doctor did blood and urine tests, nothing showed up. Mia then began to bump into things, so I took her to the opticians. Mia was given glasses, the optician suggested she had a ‘turn in eye’ and that we had caught it in time. A few days later Mia had her new glasses to wear and she was very proud of them, showing them of to who ever would listen to her. During this time Mia's moods where changing. Mia had turned into a proper brat. This was so unlike her, she was such a placid child. Mia began to be very tired all the time and had to take frequent afternoon naps. Mia had repeated headaches and began to shake constantly. The consequence was that that Mia could not even feed herself.
All these symptoms are typical of a brain tumour. Unfortunately, I was unaware of this until the 13th June 2005. When I picked Mia up form nursery that day her teacher told me Mia was having problems walking, that it looked like Mia had drunk ‘a few too many’.
Once again, I took Mia back to the doctors. I demanded an answer as something was seriously wrong with my daughter. Thankfully, the doctor agreed. As Mia lay on my lap drifting in and out of sleep, the doctor phoned the hospital. They expected us within the hour. By the time we arrived at the hospital, Mia was up and running around like there was nothing wrong.
I was so confused and very worried! I'm mean, who is so ill one minute, then running around seconds later?
At the hospital that afternoon they checked Mia over, then went away, came back with more doctors, checked her over, went away again, and finally came back to tell us we had to go to Singleton Hospital, Swansea for a brain scan.
They assured me not to worry, as it could just be an infection and that we would be home the next day and Mia would be started on a course of antibiotics. That was the worst night of my life, not knowing why we were there or what the next day had in store for us!
Tuesday the 14th June 2005 is a date I will never forget. Mia’s scan was booked for 9am. We prepared Mia for her scan and waited outside. After 2 minutes, the doctor came out and took me in to a side room. He told me that Mia had a large growth on the brain and that she would need to go to the University Hospital for Wales in Cardiff for major surgery. The news took my breath away and I remember asking if Mia was going to die. They could not give me an answer. In total disbelief, I sat and cried for what felt like hours. They must have got it all wrong!
We arrived at University Hospital for Wales that afternoon. I was shown the CT scan images they took that morning. The tumour filled the entire left side of Mia's head! Mia surgery was scheduled to take place the following Monday. Unfortunately, Mia took a turn for the worse and on the afternoon of Friday 17th June 2005. Her failing health necessitated emergency surgery, without the surgery Mia would have died that day. Mia went down at 1.30pm that afternoon and was back in the Intensive Care Unit at 2am the following morning. The operation had been a success. The surgeon's had been able to remove the entire tumour. We were warned that Mia might be unable to walk or talk because of the size of the tumour and where it was on the brain. A few hours later Mia was sat up in bed talking ands just days later she was dancing in her hospital room to the ‘Boogie Beebies. We considered ourselves very lucky. She had recovered from the trauma of the operation with no long term effects. We thought that the worst of this ordeal was over.
On the 27th June 2005 my family and I were told of the results from investigative tests that had been done on the tumour the surgeons had removed. Mia had a Grade 2 Ependymoma which needed chemotherapy to kill any remaining cells left behind after the surgery. At this point I realised my 4 year old had cancer. I still feel that pain as intensely now, as if I have just been told.
One week later Mia was sent home to await chemotherapy. During this rest period Mia carried on with her life, playing with her friends and attending school for a couple of hours here and there. Over the next 13 months Mia attended the new Children's Hospital for Wales in Cardiff for her chemotherapy. She got used to the routine and soon befriended everyone on the ward. Mia knew everyone and everyone knew Mia! Whenever we returned home from hospital; she used to say "Oh mum, I think I have spiked my temperature ", she hadn't most of the time, she just wanted to go back and play with her "hospital friends". During Mia's chemotherapy, she had routine MRI scans which all came back with good results. This was a good sign; it indicated that she might have been cured of cancer.
While Mia was on chemotherapy she was chosen to attend the opening of The National Assembly for Wales building on St David’s day (1st March 2006). Mia delighted Prince Charles by singing ‘Mary, Mary quite contrary’ for him. Mia also met The Duchess of Cornwall and other celebrities in attendance.
Mia finished her course of chemotherapy in August 2006. Results from her post chemotherapy scan were good, she appeared to be clear. Mia seemed to be on the road to recovery.
A few weeks later, Mia and I visited Disneyland Paris for the weekend. Mia’s Granny and ‘Grumpy’ came along too. A brilliant weekend was enjoyed by all, although Mia had broken her ankle just before we went and she had her leg in plaster. I would say to her "if its not one thing with you, it’s another, isn’t it Mia?” Mia would just laugh.
She was back to my little girl, back to her normal self. This was the greatest thing we could have wished for, we felt so lucky to still have her with us. The last year had been a tough ride for us all, but we got though it and that was the main thing.
Just before Christmas 2006, Mia and I were lucky enough to visit 10 Downing Street to meet The Rt.Hon. Tony Blair MP. A few days later we were both invited to a Christmas lunch with Prince Charles and Camilla at their HighGrove estate!!! Mia had a fabulous Christmas and got spoilt rotten once again. Well why not!
On 4th January 2007 Mia had a routine scan just to make sure that everything was still OK. Unfortunately, this was not the case, Mia was diagnosed with a further 3 tumours and a cyst. However, we were told she could go back to school after the Christmas break.
She was scheduled for a further operation to try and remove them. We were sent home to await the call for her operation.
Two hours into Mia’s first day of school, I had a phone call from her teacher to say she was ‘walking funny’. Mia had displayed no sign of any new problems until this point. I picked her up from school. As we arrived home 5 Minutes later, I discovered my daughter could not walk. I telephoned the hospital and was told to bring her in immediately. When we arrived at the hospital she was examined by the doctors once again. I was taken into a side room to be told yet more bad news. Mia needed to have the operation the next day or she would not survive the week. If she was not treated the chance of her survival this time was very slim indeed. I made the choice for Mia to have the second operation. I had to give her every opportunity to live. I owed it to her she was my daughter there was no other way in my eyes; I had to what was best.
The next day Mia had a 7 hour operation to remove the cyst and two of the tumours, the third was to be removed at a later date as it was in a different part of the brain. One week later, Mia started on a trial course of chemotherapy called Etopiside. It seemed to be working well and Mia was happy. She was back on her favourite ward bossing everyone about again. She was in her element.
In April this year Mia won the Welsh Child of Courage Award with a local radio station. It was the most proud moment of my life. Mia had been through so much, she deserved to win it.
The following week Mia had another routine scan which bought more bad news. The tumour had taken over and chemotherapy had stopped working. They told me Mia had several months to live.
Yet again, I felt as though I had been ‘run over by a bus’. I thought to myself, I am going to give my little girl nothing but the best of everything from then on.
A week later, Mia had a big birthday party, she was 6 years old. All her school friends and hospital friends were there. She arrived in style in a Bratz limo. Mia had a brilliant time, although she became very tired afterwards. She told me it was worth it and it was the best birthday ever! Two days later we found ourselves in Disneyland Paris again, the prize for winning the Child of Courage Award just one month before. We had a brilliant time yet again. She went on her favorite rides and met Cinderella and Prince charming. Mia thought they were "wonderful ".
On Mia’s return from Disneyland Paris, Mia was to have radiotherapy to prolong her life a little longer, but it was not meant to be. When we returned home from Disneyland Mia took to her bed and never got up again.
With me at her side, a week and a half after her 6th birthday, Mia passed away in her sleep.
Mia was a courageous, caring, loving; funny, beautiful little girl who would want to help other people like her.
This is why we started the Mia Tomlinson fund to help children and adults with brain tumours.
© Copyright The Mia Tomlinson Fund
This design uses valid CSS & HTML
SiteWizard.co.uk Web Site Design Company - eCommerce Software Shopping Cart Solutions
