On Feb 7^th 2022 my world fell apart. A sore knee that I thought was just growing pains, or a football injury, turned out to be osteosarcoma, a very rare bone cancer that only affects 30 children a year in the UK. Within a month I was in Birmingham Children’s hospital fighting for my life. After 16 months of chemotherapy, immunotherapy, surgery and scans, I am finally cancer free. I had 8 Infusions of Cisplatin, 6 infusions of Doxorubicin, 14 infusions of Methotrexate, 48 infusions of Mifamurtide, 8 General Anaesthetics, 1 nuclear bone scan, 2 lung surgeries, 2 subsequent collapsed lungs, 1 bout of sepsis, 2 central lines, 8 blood transfusions, 3 platelet transfusions, 7 MRIs, 13 X-Rays, 8 CT scans, 3 heart scans and 1 leg amputation.

It was a lot. But I got through it, mostly due to the amazing support system I had around me. Family, friends, school and community. I remember coming back to CTA, after missing a whole year, with the shortest buzzcut hair style, still very wobbly on my new leg, and people smiled at me and said kind things like: “Your hair really suits you.” Or: “You’re walking so well on your leg.” Or: “Your leg looks the same, just a different colour.” Whether or not it was true didn’t matter, it boosted me and my confidence so much. A smile, hug and warm words really can fix the most broken of person. I’ve learnt that when you have kindness and love you really can overcome anything.

The kindness everyone showed me at CTA with last year’s fundraiser meant I could get the world’s best prosthetic leg. The Genium X3. It’s seen me ski again, cycle again, swim at waterparks with slides, and this summer I’m going to re-learn to surf.

Not only that, but I now represent England at Women’s amputee football and we’re heading over to the USA next year for the first female amputee World Cup!

I attended a European traning camp in Poland and was paired with Marcin Oleksy, the winner of FIFAs best goal of 2022.

I also got signed to Zebedee talent, the worlds leading inclusive talent agency and have done some epic modelling shoots for various brands and performed on stage with Sam Ryder at the Eurovision Final in Liverpool.

My life is very different now in many different ways, but it’s my life and I’m going to live it to the fullest.

I just want to say thank you to everyone at CTA for making me feel like I still belong, even though a major part of me is now missing. I lost a year of my life. I lost my leg. But I didn’t lose my gratitude or positivity, or desire to inspire. Now I’m Head Student I’ll try and show everyone that anything is possible, because it is.