ALL CLEAR FOR MAISY
Battling 10-yr-old rings bell to signal end of cancer treatment
A10-YEAR-OLD girl who battled stage four cancer has overcome the disease.
Maisy Fitzmaurice from Amlwch, Anglesey was given the all clear last Monday following a gruelling sixmonth battle with cancerous ovarian germ cell tumours.
Last Wednesday, the Ysgol Gynradd Amlwch pupil rang the end of treatment bell at Alder Hey to mark the incredible milestone.
Her dad, Tony Fitzmaurice, manager of Amlwch Town Ladies FC, told how his family can now start to live their lives again.
“This is the moment we had been waiting for for six months,” he said.
“I didn’t expect her to get over it as quickly as she did. Different people respond differently to treatment, and Maisy responded really well. She’s been really excited – I think she’s glad it’s finally all over. We’re all very relieved that we can now start to live or lives again.”
Maisy was diagnosed in April after complaining of stomach pains weeks after celebrating her tenth birthday. Following further tests, doctors discovered a mass on her ovaries: the cancer was at its most advanced form after spreading to other parts of her body.
Within days, she had surgery to remove the tumour – that Mr Fitzmaurice said turned out to be the size of a newborn baby – before starting chemotherapy.
“She dealt with it all so well.
“It’s all been very hard for a ten-year-old to take in, I have no idea how she’s dealt with it,” he said.
“She’s the bravest person in our family. She’s been so determined to overcome it from the start.”
Following her diagnosis, Maisy was invited to meet Wales manager Ryan Giggs, went to help David Walliams write his new book in London and received a get well soon message from Little Mix’s Perrie Edwards.
Friends and family also raised thousands of pounds through a GoFundMe page to help the family cover unexpected costs throughout her treatment.
As a result, Mr Fitzmaurice said he was able to spend every day with his daughter after giving up work to support his family.
“Without their support, I wouldn’t have been able to spend every day with Maisy,” he added. “All donations have helped massively.
“I would just like to thank everyone from Amlwch and the wider community for everything they have done.”
After announcing the news last Wednesday, dozens of tributes came flooding in, many describing Maisy as an “inspiration” and a “hero”. Carol Lewis, captain of Amlwch Town Ladies FC, wrote: “I remember when you told me the horrible news, we hugged each other so tight and promised each other that we would fight this together... and that’s exactly wot you’ve done!
“You are a very brave girl Maisy, I am so proud of you, you are an inspirational to us all not once you gave up when times got hard you kept going with that special smile!”