RAINBOWS
ANYONE visited this Valleys town in the past few weeks and wondered why it is covered in rainbows? Merthyr Tydfil has been flooded with rainbows for weeks. Bows made from coloured ribbon have been decorating countless cars, businesses, schools, gates, front doors, just about anything they can be tied to.
And it is all down to one inspiring little girl.
Mia Chambers is undergoing treatment for cancer and the five-yearold’s parents have been appealing to raise funds so they can send her to America for treatment.
She first became unwell in April 2016 after suffering from vomiting and bouts of fatigue.
Originally thought to be down to a nasty sickness bug, a lump was eventually discovered in her stomach.
After undergoing some tests, parents Kirsty and Josh were horrified to learn the mass was cancerous.
Mia was immediately transferred to the Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospital for Wales in Cardiff.
Further tests confirmed the lump was Stage 4 high risk neuroblastoma, an aggressive form of the disease which attacks the nerves.
It is one of the most common cancers in young children.
Mia’s primary tumour was attached to her right adrenal gland and she had secondary growths in her ovary and liver.
To try to eliminate the tumour Mia started an aggressive course of treatment.
She underwent eight rounds of chemotherapy, which shrunk the tumour “from the size of a clenched fist to a golf ball”.
Three weeks later the “little warrior” had high-dose chemotherapy and needed a stem cell transplant.
It was following this doctors discovered that adhesions had formed around her stomach, which meant that Mia was unable to eat properly and needed more surgery.
Cancer experts say patients with neuroblastoma have a high rate of relapsing.
The family now believe her best chance of avoiding that is to visit the United States where she would be able to access a clinical trial for additional cancer therapy.
And, judging by the overwhelming support from friends, family, neighbours – and an incredible amount of people they don’t even know – the family is more hopeful than ever that they can reach the six-figure target.
Rainbows in Merthyr have become synonymous with Mia, and the adorable, smiley, five-year-old even recognises they are for her.
The campaign has been going for around eight weeks.
On March 31 Rainbow Day was held, sparking people in Merthyr to add rainbows to their profile pictures on Facebook.
Children wore bright colours at school and fundraising events were held.
The entire Valleys town has come together with the common cause of showing solidarity to a little girl fighting cancer.
Rainbow Day was originally the idea of Libby Jones, a friend of the family and child cancer survivor herself.
Since then the town’s much-loved Redhouse has been lit up in rainbow colours and thousands of residents have been donning rainbowcoloured bows on their cars, gates, front doors and businesses.
Mia’s parents – Josh Chambers and Kirsty Mahoney – couldn’t be more grateful and want to thank everyone who has helped so far.
Josh, 27, said: “It’s gone absolutely mad. The response we’ve had, it’s never expected.
“Merthyr is a small community with an amazing heart because of what everyone has done for her.
“We never in a million years expected this response. The way it’s actually taken off, I still don’t understand it.
“Seeing people with all the rainbow ribbons, it’s actually getting to the point where it’s people in Tredegar and Aberdare.
“We’re sending bows to Scotland! We have always known we lived in a good community.
“Without these people’s support, we wouldn’t have been able to have that chance open to us. We will be forever grateful.”
Meanwhile Mia is said to be doing well and even hoping to return to school gradually over the coming weeks.
“She’s fantastic, absolutely amazing. She’s busting with energy,” her dad said.
“When she was going through the main part of the treatment she was marvellous. She’s still under treatment but Mia’s having no issues.
“She’s doing awesome. For the last 10-12 months she hasn’t been able to do the things that normal children do.
“It’s nice to have her back as normal as any other child.”
Mum Kirsty, 28, described the reaction to the campaign as “out of this world”.