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1 hour ago Matt Weigold Derby Supplied Harper was five years old when she was diagnosed with neuroblastoma When Aaron's five-year-old daughter, Harper, developed a lump on her neck hours after being hit in the face by a football at school, he expected doctors to say she had a cyst. "Never in a million years" did he think their visit to an urgent treatment centre would lead to her being diagnosed with cancer. Harper, now seven and from Pinxton in Derbyshire, appeared fit and well at the time, but doctors confirmed she had neuroblastoma, a childhood cancer that develops from immature nerve cells.
Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust (NUH) said that, while the ball injury did not cause the cancer, the lump on Harper's neck led to the scans and biopsies that resulted in the diagnosis. Harper was given the all-clear in late August and is now looking forward to a trip to Disney World in Florida, funded by local businesses that were touched by her story. Supplied Harper was placed in critical care twice during her treatment Harper's older sister noticed a large lump developing on her neck on 4 March 2025, hours after she was struck by the football.
Aaron said he took Harper to Ripley Urgent Treatment Centre, expecting the doctor to confirm a cyst. Instead, they were advised to attend King's Mill Hospital in Sutton-in-Ashfield, where Harper underwent blood tests and CT scans - the results of which suggested she had neuroblastoma. "I never expected it," said Aaron.
"Never in a million years did I think it was cancer. "I broke down. I was worried all the time." Harper was taken to Queen's Medical Centre (QMC) in Nottingham over concerns the lump could be pushing against her windpipe and restricting her breathing.
At QMC, which is operated by NUH, doctors confirmed the cancer had reached stage four and had spread through her nervous system to her chest, spine and neck. "We told her there was a monster inside her body, it shouldn't be there and she needed medicine to make it smaller and smaller, because if you say cancer to a child, they haven't got a clue," said Aaron. Harper had 80 days of chemotherapy, followed by stem cell therapy, radiotherapy and six months of immunotherapy.
On two occasions, Harper was placed in critical care, and doctors advised her family to say their final goodbyes. Aaron said the family were "living three months at a time" While Harper was given the all-clear in the summer, she will continue to have scans every three months. "There's a 40% to 50% chance it comes back in the first two years, so we're living three months at a time.
It's horrible to go through," said Aaron. He added: "You've just got to stay strong for her. Be there every single day for her and hope things work out." Having heard Harper's story, pub landlords, local business owners and football club Derbyshire United raised money for her to go on her dream holiday to Disney World.
Harper is now "really excited" to meet the princesses from her favourite films during the trip next summer. More on this story Related internet links
Source: BBC
