Liberty was diagnosed with Ewing sarcoma of her tibia, one of the rarer but very aggressive forms of primary bone cancer, on her 13th birthday in September 2016.
She had been struggling with intermittent pain in her lower left leg for over 20 months, particularly at night, which was unfortunately dismissed as growing pains and sports injuries during her numerous GP and hospital visits.
By the time she was finally diagnosed, the tumour was already nearly 20cm and had burst through her bone into the surrounding soft tissue.
Karen, Liberty's Mum
From a very young age Liberty was sports mad, with a particular passion for swimming, dance (especially tap), netball, athletics, golf and football and she was an avid QPR supporter, someone has to be! Remarkably her pain never stopped or slowed down her great love of sport and the Consultants were amazed she was still walking, let alone participating in over 10 hours of swimming, dance and school sports each week!
She was an out-going, fun loving girl with a wicked sense of humour and neither her cancer diagnosis nor gruelling treatment dampened that passion for life or extinguished her enigmatic and dazzling smile that she was so well known for. Her smile could literally light up a room and just capture everyone under its spell.
Liberty amazed everyone during her treatment and her family could not have been more proud.
She rarely moaned and just got on with it, that cheeky grin rarely slipping from her face. Many times after a stay in hospital, she was known to throw on her wig, lashes and make-up in order to dash down the motorway and make the next party or the next school disco! It didn't matter what was thrown at her; chemotherapy, hair loss, transfusions, endless vomiting, 9 hour limb salvage surgery, learning to walk again, stem cell transplant, liver failure, relentless scans and tests or intensive radiotherapy, she just faced it all head on and yet still had the amazing capacity to always put others before herself.
A true warrior princess and heroine in every sense of the word!
Literally just days from the end of her treatment in late August 2017, Liberty sadly discovered a new lump in her thigh. It was during emergency scans that she was given the devastating news that not only had the Ewing's returned, it had also now spread throughout her lungs and liver as well as her lymph glands and nothing more could be done. It was just too aggressive.
Liberty handled the news with such dignity, grace and a maturity far exceeding her tender 13 years. Her greatest worry right to the end was always her friends and family, more concerned about their feelings over and above her own and it was during this time that the idea for Liberty's Legacy was born. She did not want any other child to suffer as she had, or other families to be ripped apart in the same way, and she also wanted her name to live on and to be remembered. Her wish was that her family continue to raise awareness and funds for vital research specifically into Ewing's, for which survival rates have shockingly not improved in nearly 30 years and treatment protocols are decades old.
Liberty gained her wings on October 11th 2017, just 2 weeks after her 14th birthday, a day that she was so determined to make. She is so very deeply missed, but she taught those around her so much during her 13 month battle with her courage, bravery, dignity, humour and thoughtfulness and she continues to inspire and touch people's hearts every single day.
Libs, as she was known to those closest to her, had a crazy sense of humour and right up until the last few days, despite immeasurable pain, she continued to make them laugh and smile and that is how she will forever be remembered, with love, laughter and a smile. Fly high baby girl.
Liberty’s Legacy are proud to be supported by their Patron, Olivier-nominated tap dancer and star of screen and stage, Adam Garcia. Liberty had a huge passion for all things dance related having danced from the age of 2, especially tap! Liberty was also arguably one of Adam’s biggest fans and she was absolutely thrilled to meet him whilst receiving palliative chemotherapy at the John Radcliffe Hospital.
It’s fair to say that their meeting had a huge effect on Adam, “For the brief period I got to know Liberty I was profoundly touched by her grace, her bravery, her compassion and her character, all through the most horrific reality. This is no doubt a reflection of her family and friends that surrounded her, but also simply who she was. I feel extremely privileged to have been able to meet Libs. She left an indelible mark in my heart as she did for all those lucky to have shared her presence and I am incredibly proud to be the patron of Liberty’s Legacy".
Since October 2017, Liberty's loving family and friends along with the wider community have been raising awareness and vital funds for new life saving research into Ewing sarcoma, to help children and others like Liberty, as was her wish.
From Charity Auctions, Cake Sales, Netball tournaments, Dance Shows and 10k Runs, to Mufti Days, Cinema screenings, Head shaves and raffles.....there's lots going on and you can support Liberty's Legacy right now by donating straight to the fund or by getting involved through the Liberty's Legacy Facebook page.
Karen, Darren and Olivia Schurer
You can make a donation or pay in funds raised by cheque, payable to Bone Cancer Research Trust, to:
Bone Cancer Research Trust, 10 Feast Field, Horsforth, Leeds, LS18 4TJ.
Please ensure you make it clear that the donation is for Liberty’s Legacy so that your donation is allocated to the correct fund.
100% of donations to Liberty’s Legacy will go to Ewing sarcoma research.
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