Why Fifi, 5, is a Little Star!

From the archive, first published Friday 8th Dec 2006.

A little girl who survived a rare cancer has been recognised for her bravery and sparkle with a special award.

Fifi Fawcett visited Cine-world Cinema in Bradford yesterday with her mother Mya to be presented with a Cancer Research UK Little Star award.

The awards, sponsored by Cineworld Cinemas, reward the courage of children who have survived cancer or who are undergoing treatment.

The five-year-old, who has never been to the cinema before, wore a wide smile as she received her Little Star award along with a family cinema ticket and a certificate signed by celebrities including Kylie Minogue who recently endured her own cancer battle.

Fifi, an only child, was diagnosed with cancer last Easter when she was just three-and-a-half years old.

On waking one morning Fifi was sick as she sat up and began to suffer from headaches. After consulting her GP, Mya, of Cowhouse Bridge, Cullingworth, took her daughter to Airedale Hospital at Steeton. The doctors there recognised the classic symptoms of a brain tumour and within half an hour Fifi had a CT scan which showed a mass on her brain.

Further tests revealed it was an atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumour - a very rare cancer that affects just a handful of children each year. It is so rare doctors had to contact colleagues in the US for guidance on how to treat it.

Fifi was moved to St James's Hospital, Leeds, where she had nine hours of surgery to remove the tumour, followed by a course of high-dose chemo-therapy and then radiotherapy at Cookridge Hospital in Leeds.

Mya said: "The tumour was very aggressive, so they had to throw everything at it. Fifi had radiotherapy every day for six weeks on her head and spine.

"They had to give her a general anaesthetic each time so she would stay still."

Today Fifi is a happy, healthy five-year-old, who continues to thrive and enjoy life.

"Thankfully the treatments seem to have worked," said Mya. "Fifi had her last scan in May and we were told she was free of the disease.

"She is now back full time at her local primary school in the village. She has very short, thick red hair and looks just like Kylie - beautiful!

"Fifi amazes me with her sunny nature and strength of character. Despite what she has been through she remains such a happy little girl and is truly inspirational. Our lives are richer and fuller because of the many great people we have met since this happened.

"Now every day when we wake up, whatever the weather, I know it's going to be another great day with my daughter.

"She is really looking forward to going to see a film at the cinema for the first time and wants to see Happy Feet."

Cineworld Bradford's assistant manager Anushree Ravee-ndran said: "Fifi is a very special girl and I am delighted to present her with this accolade and give her the chance to see her first film at a cinema."

e-mail: claire.lomax @bradford.newsquest.co.uk