A BRAVE young girl who has been in and out of hospital for the last seven months after being diagnosed with a brain tumour is determined to give back to those who have supported her along the way.
There was no sign that 14-year-old Amelia Walker, of Low Valley, was ill and the October news came as a shock to all that knew her.
It wasn’t until Amelia became injured after play fighting with her brother that a diagnosis was made.
Her mum, 37-year-old Sarah, told the Chronicle: “She ended up hurting her arm.
“It wasn’t until she came home from school on the Monday that we took her to hospital because she was unable to write.
“They did an MRI scan at Barnsley Hospital and then she was eventually sent to Sheffield Children’s Hospital.
“The emergency MRI scan there took one-and-a-half hours - that’s when we were told she had a brain tumour.
“I’ve always wanted the kids to stop play fighting - but I’ve never been more thankful for them doing that.
“Without it we might never have known about this.”
It came as a huge shock to Sarah and her daughter, but it was the brave teenager who comforted her mum on the day.
“It turned out it was too dangerous for a biopsy as they would have had to crack her skull,” she added.
“It was a huge shock to us.
“When we were told there was a lot of doctors in the room and we didn’t fully understand what they were saying.
“But when we did I was in tears.
“Amelia put her arm around me and said that it’s going to be okay.
“She was more worried about losing her hair - but I think that she’s really rocking the short hair.”
Amelia has been having chemotherapy sessions for the last seven months and is currently wheelchair-bound.
But Sarah said she’s a fighter - and admits that she can’t get her head around how well she’s coping.
“She’s just incredible - I don’t know how she does it,” she added.
“Amelia is such a loving person.
“It’s been a rollercoaster of a journey.
“The chemotherapy is going to take 18 months, obviously longer when she’s ill.
“We’re trying to think positive and as long as the tumour isn’t growing and she doesn’t develop any more symptoms it should be good.”
Amelia has been spending her time on ward six at Sheffield Children’s Hospital and she has set up an Amazon wish list for people to donate toys to kids on the ward.
She’s also created a fundraising page, alongside Sarah, to raise money for the charity Parents Association of Children with Tumours and Leukaemia - and is hoping to raise funds for charity Young Lives in the future.
“We’re wanting to give something back to those people that have helped us recently,” she added.
“It’s so important for us to do that.
“It’s incredible what they are doing for people.”
To donate to the fundraiser, follow the link href=https://www.gofundme.com/f/sv2znf-sarahs-fund-for-charity?utm—campaign=p—cp+share-sheet&utm—medium=social&utm—source=facebook>
