Brave Millie takes to the air for prom

SIX months after her cancer returned, Millie O’Shea celebrated her 16th birthday with a very special prom.

The Whitworth High School pupil was three years old when she was first diagnosed with a Wilms’ tumour and, after surgery and 34 weeks of chemotherapy and radiotherapy, she was finally given the all clear in 2008.

On GCSE results day, which was also her 16th birthday, she obtained a distinction in her BTEC PE and her friends and family organised a special prom in Rawtenstall as she had been too ill to attend the school event.

A free helicopter ride was provided by Paul Harrison, from Britannia, whose son Ben is best friend’s with Logan Westerman, Millie’s cousin.

She took off from Lobden Golf Course in Whitworth and enjoyed an aerial view of Rossendale before landing at Marl Pits where a white Range Rover with a ‘Millie’ plate was waiting to take her to the prom at Revival in Rawtenstall.

Her parents Garry and Susan said they are ‘very grateful’ to everyone who made the event so special, even if Millie kept them

up at their home in Shawforth until 2.30am the following day opening all her presents.

Susan said: “Around 200 people were there and it was very special.

“We had kept that week free of treatment, but her levels were low so chemotherapy was delayed until the Monday of that week.

“She did so well and even managed to get up on the dance floor for a little while.”

In February, a large tumour was detected in Millie’s lung and further investigation found a multitude of smaller tumours in both lungs.

In April she was operated on but Susan said the large tumour was connected to her heart, wrapped around her main artery and her trachea and so was inoperable.

After six months, and 10 rounds of chemotherapy, the large tumour has shrunk by half, but two of the smaller ones have grown. The family are now waiting for the next x-ray on September 9 and a further CT scan four weeks later.

Susan said: “We are just hoping that the news we get next month is good. We would like to say thank you to everyone who ●● Millie O’Shea is delivered to her prom in style by a helicopter and Range Rover, inset, with sister Laura, friend Kaitlyn Paton and niece Naimh Diver, six made Millie’s birthday so special.”

Millie has now enrolled at Rochdale College on a beauty course as she is currently not physically able to take up the BTEC scholarship she secured at Rochdale AFC.

She has played four seasons at Rochdale and is in the Rochdale AFC Open Age Team.

The club arranged for Millie to be the mascot last week for Rochdale’s home match against Sunderland.

Britannia shop and café Demi-licious, where Millie’s aunt Caroline Westerman and friends Sara Carr and Maggie Whiteman work, organised the prom.

Caroline said: “We organised events to raise money to make her prom and birthday special. Eventwerx Party Hire provided the Range Rover and red carpet treatment at Revival, Whitworth Chippy paid for the balloon arch and Icing on the Cake in Bacup made the birthday cake.

“Lynn Christiansen from Sew Fabulous in Whitworth made a beautiful red dress to a design Millie picked and Si Smith provided free use of Revival.”