On the 19th June 2009, 14 month old Maisy Rose Bolus was admitted to Ormskirk Hospital with morning vomiting and increased tiredness after repeated visits to her GP.
At 1 am on Fathers Day, after Maisy rapidly deteriorated, they were told the CT Scan showed a large critical mass on Maisy’s brain and she needed to be immediately transferred to Alder Hey for lifesaving surgery. After 3 major surgeries and further pathology tests UK pathologists diagnosed it as either, ATRT or Choroid Plexus Carcinoma.
After 2 cycles of unsuccessful chemotherapy, and suspicion of a misdiagnosis, the opinion of a very experienced USA pathologist was sought and she found the tumour to be an extremely rare Intracranial Mesenchymal Chondrosarcoma. She had only seen 3 in her career, all were girls under 2 and presented in the same location in the brain.
Maisy was fighting against the unknown as there are no proven protocols out there for this tumour.
Sadly, On the 5th October 2009, Maisy moved on and left her cancer behind to play in the stars with her Grandpa.
Her short life will be remembered through The Maisy Rose Project as we carry on her fight to help find cures for what are now the biggest killers of all childhood cancers.
The Maisy Rose Project is dedicated to raising awareness and funds to plough into the research of rare Brain Tumours so that Maisy can help children & families in the same situation.
We want every parent to be aware of the symptoms of brain tumours. Too many cases go undetected or are found too late.
About 300 children in the UK develop brain tumours each year, with boys being affected more than girls. Brain cancers are the second most common cancer found in children and young people under the age of 15.
A scan of a brain with a tumour
Brain tumours can develop from any of the different types of cells found in the brain. Most brain tumours are benign, which means they do not spread into other areas of the brain. Malignant brain tumours can spread to the normal brain tissue that surrounds them. This can cause damage to the surrounding areas and increase pressure inside the skull and on the nerves.
The two main types of brain tumours that affect children are astrocytoma and medulloblastoma. Astrocytoma develops from the astrocytes, cells which support the structure of the brain and hold nerve cells in place. Medulloblastoma develops in the cerebellum, a region at the back of the brain. These cancers may spread to other parts of the brain or into the spinal cord.
It is because of these facts that I make no apologies for asking you to help me do our little bit to help all the families and children suffering from Tumours.
On Nov 18th 2010 I held a sponsored fashion show. Nine women who had lost a total of 18stone between them agreed to be models for the night. And what a night it was. The show featured clothes from Lady Designerwear in Wigan , LuLu Belles in Ormskirk and Debenhams in Wigan. Having dropped from a size 24 to a size 14 this event was a win win for everyone involved. The event raised a total of £507. Check out the photos in the Gallery
On 30th January 2011 I held a Mind Body Spirit festival at the Lancashire Manor Hotel. The event wasn’t as well attended as we had hoped but it still proved to be a lovely day for those who came. Stalls included Reiki, Healing, Psychic readings, health products and Chair massage to name a few. We had some great workshops in particular Janice Fryett’s singing workshop which ended the day on a real musical high. The event raised £360 See Janice’s workshop pictures in the gallery.
On Thursday 21st April I dragged family and friends along to Marks and Spencers in St Helens for a days bag packing. I have to say I’ve gained a new respect for those people who work on the tills. It was the Easter weekends and those never stopped all day. What a generous group of shoppers we met that day raisings another £429 to add to the pot.
As you can see the money is coming in with just a couple of events left to go before leaving for China I will be extremely grateful for any help you can give me.
Events coming soon:
July 28th Myself and the Stairclimbing team are challenging ourselves to climb all the stairs in Wigan Athletics DW Stadium, approx 1000 stairs. More information will appear on this site soon. Anyone wishing to make a pledge can visit www.justgiving.com/jenny-china
Sept 10th I will be holding an extremely motivating seminar for anyone wanting to lose weight successfully once and for always. Keep watching the events page for further information. I would appreciate you spreading the word to as many people as possible.
October 8th The big day itself I depart the UK for Beijing
Day two: Arrive in Beijing, take a rickshaw ride through the Hutongs area, a walk through Tiananmen Square to the famous forbidden City.
Day Three: We trek from Taipingzhai to Huangyaguan, ending at night in very basic accommodation. Treking time approx 3hrs (break us in slowly)
Day Four: We commence trekking along the Great wall to Jinshanling, covering some 27 watch towers over very ragged ground. Treking time approx 7-8hrs
Day Five: Climb from Jinshanling to Simatai, far from the tourist trail! A truly amazing day that we will remember for ever apparently!!! Treking time 8-9hrs (oh the feet)
Day Six: Climb the awesome 1000 steps and trek the 20 battlements from the foot of the great wall to the top of the mountains. Ouch! A very tough day! Why am I doing this? Treking time 6-7hrs
Day Seven: Helping to repair the Great Wall in the Badling old section. A long and arduous day, but very rewarding, I’m not sure who they are trying to convince> Treking time 7hrs
Day 8: Free day to enjoy the hustle and bustle of Beijing. Now that’s more like it.
Day 9: Transfer to the UK
I’m tired thinking about it, I wanted a challenge and it seems I’m going to get one. Anything you can do to make this easier would be gratefully appreciated whether it’s your stories of completing similar challenges, If you fancy walking with me as I’m training, you want to help spread the word re forthcoming events or want to donate a few pounds I will be thankful for it all.
Keep an eye on the blog and newsletter for updates on how the training and events are coming along.
To make a donation visit www.justgiving.com/jenny-china
