Gaming centre trip is a thrill for brave teenager

A teenager battling leukaemia has taken the trip of a lifetime to Microsoft’s world-class gaming hub.

Taylor Scott, from Penenden Heath, loves graphic design and gaming, so a behind-the-scenes trip to Rare Studios’ creative centre was a dream come true.

The 14-year-old travelled to Leicester with her parents Tanya and Jamie before being chauffeured by limo to the Twycross HQ.

The family, of Gladstone Road, were given a tour and staff explained how the graphics and music of new game Sea of Thieves had been created.

Taylor was also given access to a secret project and advice on the best way to break into the industry, before being presented with a bag of games and Xbox goodies.

The Invicta Grammar pupil cried and laughed when she heard the Make-A-Wish charity had organised the trip.

Mum Tanya, 45, said: “Taylor had been ill before Christmas 2014 and we put it down to growing pains.

“She would bruise easily and was always tired and complained of pains in her bones. We would go for walks and had to drag her along. She would hang on to the lamppost and beg not to have to go.

“We thought she was just lazy and trying to get out of it. I feel guilty looking back at that now.

“She had her 13th birthday on Christmas Day but felt ill so it ruined it. Then she was diag- nosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.”

A rare complication of steroid treatment caused her to develop avascular necrosis (AVN) – a condition which blocks the blood supply to her joints.

Mrs Scott, a children’s playgroup worker, added: “Taylor says the AVN is worse than her cancer. Steroids normally do so much good but can do so much damage too. God bless the NHS, that’s all I can say.”

Although Taylor is now in remission, her treatment doesn’t finish until the end of the year. She may need hip and knee replacements.

Typically. she is positive about her future and has sage advice for other young sufferers, saying: “Stay strong and believe it’s going to get better. If you don’t stay strong then it’s going to be a much harder journey.”