Mum’s heartbreaking battle for ‘beautiful’ girl battling rare tumour

CARYS Bradshaw’s sporadic headaches and vomiting episodes uncovered a brain tumour so sinister it has a one per cent chance of survival. A new clinical trial could be her only chance

Carys Bradshaw from Belrose — with mum Rachel — is battling a rare and aggressive brain tumour. Picture: Gofundme

• 'I get to help sick kids make memories'
• Big Bear Cottage dream lives on

With long hair, bright eyes and a big smile, Carys Bradshaw looks like a little girl who radiates health. But the reality is far different.

Carys, 7, from Belrose, is battling a deadly brain tumour, and her family is helping her in the heartbreaking fight.

Carys will fly to the UK for treatment next month. Picture: Gofundme

Carys is a student at Manly West. Picture: Gofundme

Carys, a student at Manly West School, began suffering headaches and vomiting in December.

An MRI scan showed a rare and fatal condition called Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma, an aggressive cancer found deep inside the brain stem.

“There are no words that can describe the complete and shock, grief and helplessness that our family felt when hearing this news,” Rachel Bradshaw, a single parent, wrote on a Gofundme page for Carys. “The sadness of the prognosis is completely overwhelming and we cannot imagine life without Carys.”

Carys with her younger sister. Picture: Gofundme

Carys was put on radiation therapy to ease her symptoms, but the family plans to take her to London next month for a new treatment trial developed by British neurosurgeons, which involves inserting fine catheters into the brain. They have raised over $171,000 of a $350,000 goal for the overseas trip.

Carys began suffering sporadic headaches and vomiting episodes in December. Picture: Gofundme

“To suddenly be told that one of your beautiful little girls will never grow up is — I can’t even find a word that can describe the emotion — devastating,” she said.

Visit Carys’ Gofundme page to help.