Back in January 2021, I was just seven years old and loved being active. I was part of several sports teams at school and especially enjoyed our 'daily mile' runs. But one day, during our run, I felt a sharp pain in my leg. It hurt so much that I had to stop and tell my teacher I couldn't continue.

My mum, who's a nurse and had been through breast cancer herself, noticed a hard lump on my thigh. She took me to the GP, who quickly arranged an X-ray. The results showed something was wrong with my bone, and I was sent to the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital in Stanmore for more tests. That's when I was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a type of bone cancer.

Later, I had limb-salvage surgery at Stanmore, where they gave me a special growing prosthetic—the largest they'd ever implanted because I was still growing. Before the surgery, I told them I wanted to fly to the moon, so my surgeon drew a rocket on my leg!

Being in the hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic was tough. I couldn't see many people, but the play therapists, my clinical nurse specialist, and physiotherapist helped me a lot. They even helped me attend school when I could.

I also read a book called "Abbie Has Osteosarcoma", a book produced by BCRT to help children like me understand their treatment, it helped me feel less alone.

But my classmates sent me electronic post-it notes with messages of support, which really cheered me up.

At home, my dog Arlo would sit on my leg during treatment, providing comfort. After treatment, he stopped doing that, almost like he knew I was better. We also have another whippet named Remy.

Now, at 12 years old, I go for scans every four months and have regular physiotherapy.

Something positive that has come out of everything I have been through is discovering wheelchair tennis. I dream of competing in the Paralympics one day and to coach other young players like me.

In 2022, I met professional players Alfie Hewett he invited me to watch him play at Wimbledon and that's when I decided to try wheelchair tennis myself. I have also met Gordon Reid, who gave me tips and inspired me even more. I was even selected to perform the pre-match coin toss at the Wimbledon Singles Finals!

I am currently ranked 14 in the world under 18 rankings. I'm aiming for top 10 by the end of the year! I play regularly, both one-on-one and as part of a squad, where I love the inclusive environment.

Sharing my story helps me cope and, I hope, inspires others facing similar challenges. If you're going through something similar, know that you're not alone, and there are people and resources out there to support you.

Without research into Bone cancer the treatment will remain the same. Sadly it doesn't always work. The drugs are really strong and can cause lifelong damage to hearing, the heart and the kidneys. I wear one hearing aid now and lost high frequency hearing in both ears.

My big dream is for faster diagnosis - the signs of bone cancer must be shared with GPs and health Care staff, teachers and the general public. My dream is for more targeted treatment so that it works, and is kinder to the rest of the body. 

You can help me by raising awareness and fundraising in fun and creative ways—host a bake sale, take on a sponsored challenge, or organise a community event. Every pound raised supports children like me through their recovery and helps raise awareness for bone cancer.