Maya's Story

Fourteen year old Maya’s journey began with an insect bite on her leg that quickly became infected and would not respond to antibiotics. We knew something was wrong with her ability to fight infection. We never imagined for one second that cancer could be to blame.

Several visits to the Royal Cornwall Hospital’s emergency department we were told she needed immediate transfer overnight to Bristol with suspected leukaemia.

The following morning, Maya and her mum Holly arrived in Bristol.

Meanwhile back in Cornwall little sister Ruby (aged 11 at the time), their Auntie Livvy and Karen “Bibi” as they call their Grandmother, began to take on board the enormity of the news.

Further tests confirmed Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia and we started to learn the vast new vocabulary we were about to have thrust at us all.

Maya is now nine months into her two years of treatment and is doing amazingly well. Probably better than the rest of us to be honest!

Twice we have had to deal with her treatment sending her into type one diabetic territory which was a new challenge to master. Twice she has lost all her hair and learned that inner beauty and health really do mean so much more than beauty that is only skin deep.

We have all learned to be more aware, more tolerant and patient.

We are so grateful to The Ben Saunders Foundation for this much needed time away as a family. Thank you so much.