10-year-old’s love of Toy Story films is helping her fight cancer
A SCHOOLGIRL’S love of Toy Story is helping her battle cancer – after her mum turned her treatment mask into Buzz Lightyear to make her superbrave.
Ffion Hood, 10, says the cartoon superhero mask helped her face up to proton beam therapy for cancer in her eye.
Ffion first donned the facemask before she slid into a high-tech proton beam therapy machine for the latest round of her treatment.
And creative Ffion was given the chance to add a design to her mask – and made it in the style of spaceman Buzz.
She drew his trademark smile onto the mask and painted the outside purple.
Her mum Alison, 39, said: “Ffion has loved Toy Story since she was very little and she takes her Woody toy with her everywhere.
“Her Woody toy goes with her for all her treatments and so when she was told she could customise her treatment mask she decided to stick with a Toy Story theme and choose Buzz.”
Patients undergoing the groundbreaking treatment must wear a protective mask that is marked with the exact spot where the radiation is targeted.
Ffion, of Pentwyn, Cardiff, has been surrounded by her favourite toys from the movies in her hospital bed.
Alison, a carer, supported Ffion through her 28 sessions of treatment at the Christie cancer hospital in Manchester, where she was the first child from Wales to receive treatment.
Ffion is now recovering at home in Cardiff before having chemotherapy for the rhabdomyosarcoma cancerous tumour in her left eye.
She was diagnosed with the rare cancer in February 2019 after waking up one morning to notice her left eye had turned inwards.
Mum-of-two Alison said: “Ffion wasn’t in pain but it did affect her vision so I took her straight to the optician.
“That’s when a 2.5cm lump was spotted and Ffion was referred immediately for tests.”
In February, doctors at Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospital in Cardiff told Ffion and her mum that the lump was cancerous.
The family family were then supported by children’s charity Latch and friends launched a Facebook page to share
Ffion’s progress and inspire others.
Alison said: “Ffion is so laid back and has been so brave. I know her story is helping a lot of people through her Facebook page.
“Ffion is also using the following she has to fundraise for Latch, a children’s cancer charity and Wales and for the Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospital in Cardiff.”
Alison said: “After diagnosis that’s when the support from Latch kicked in.
“In my eyes they are a charity that shouldn’t have to exist but what a God send that they do.
“They take care of so many things for us – from foot massages on the wards to princesses who visit the children.
“It all helps to brighten Ffion and the other children’s days. And they so deserve it.
“Ffion wants to share her story to give back to them and the children’s hospital for their amazing support.
“And anything left over from her fundraising I want her to spend it on making some special memories.”
■ You can help Ffion with her fundraising by following her Facebook page: Ffion Hood – Me & My Rhabdo or donate at gofundme. com/f/6zr9ht-a-10-year-old-girlsfight-against-cancer