A nine-year-old girl is celebrating the one-year anniversary of life-saving brain surgery this Saturday by taking on a 5km sponsored walk along with her miniature Shetland pony.
On December 12, a year to the day after Anabelle Hill's 12-hour craniotomy, she will take part in a Covid-secure Santa Dash to raise funds for the charity Brain Tumour Research.
As well as pony Bramble, who stands just 29” tall, Anabelle - who lives in Redruth and goes to school in Falmouth - will be accompanied by mum Jodi Colston, 13-year-old brother Alfie, and dad Tom Hill.
They will complete a route along the mining trails around Carharrack and then back through the village.
Anabelle’s 5cm brain tumour, which turned out to be a low-grade pilocytic astrocytoma, was discovered on December 7, 2019 when she had a brain scan. The tumour in her cerebellum was starting to push on her brain stem.
Anabelle after surgery last year
Jodi, a self-employed equine groom, said: “It was such a shock to find out that Anabelle had something so serious. For some months, she had been complaining of eye pain, headaches and sometimes stomach pains.
"She saw the GP a number of times and had appointments with opticians, but no one thought it was anything sinister.
“On more than one occasion an ophthalmologist put the fact that Anabelle couldn’t read the second line of the eye test down to anxiety of meeting new people.
“As a mum, however, I just knew something was wrong, but didn’t contemplate that it might be a brain tumour. What eight-year-old constantly has eye pain and headaches?”
Anabelle, a pupil in year four at King Charles Primary School in Falmouth, spent several weeks in the Bristol Royal Hospital for Children, being able to return home just for five days over Christmas.
Anabelle in hospital last year with her mum Jodi and her partner Louis, brother Alfie and dad Tom
Jodi added: “Anabelle was very poorly last year and Christmas felt totally surreal. This year we can’t wait to be able to celebrate properly together as a family. It will be so special just not having the horrible nightmare of Christmas last year.
“After finally being discharged, Anabelle had physiotherapy to help her get stronger. Sky, her full-size Shetland pony was a great boost because, although she wasn’t able to ride her for six months, she was able to walk her around and this really helped her balance.
“Anabelle is now on six-monthly scans to check that the brain tumour isn’t growing back, which she hates, particularly when they inject the contrast dye.
“It will be great to do the Santa Dash for Brain Tumour Research, although we have had to limit ourselves to a distance of 5km because Bramble has very little legs!
“We have been to hell and back living through the trauma of Anabelle’s treatment. My partner Louis Smart was our rock when Anabelle was in hospital, keeping me and Anabelle’s dad sane and doing all the things we didn’t have the energy for.
Anabelle with pony Bramble. Picture: Brain Tumour Research
“We are so lucky to still have our daughter with us and now fighting fit, although she is registered as partially-sighted as she can’t read average-sized text or text on certain background colours.
"We know only too well that this is not the happy outcome for so many brain tumour patients.”
To donate to Jodi’s fundraising inspired by Anabelle go to www.facebook.com/donate/3281421771969253/
Brain Tumour Research said that brain tumours kill more children and adults under the age of 40 than any other cancer, yet historically just one per cent of the national spend on cancer research has been allocated to the disease.
Melanie Tiley, community development manager at Brain Tumour Research, said: “I can’t imagine how shocking it must be to learn your child has a brain tumour. We are grateful to Anabelle’s family - and Bramble! - for taking part in our virtual Santa Dash. I am sure it will motivate and inspire others to get involved."
There is a private ‘Santa Dash this December’ Facebook group for supporters who wish to take part. Participants also receive a limited edition, bright pink Brain Tumour Research Santa hat to wear whilst doing the Dash.
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