Rangers starlet’s brave battle with rare cancer
A BRAVE Glaswegian schoolgirl is sharing her ordeal with a rare type of cancer in a film produced by a cancer charity.
Morven Macdonald, 11, was diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma in January 2019 at the age of seven.
Her story is now produced by the national childhood cancer charity Children with Cancer UK as part of Sarcoma Awareness Month this July.
Morven’s journey started when her mother, Cara, noticed her left eyelid drooping.
Thinking it was the development of a lazy eye, Cara took her to the optician.
Cara said: “A tumour was found, and a biopsy followed.
“A very long and terrifying week later we were given the results that it was cancer.
“It was found the cancer was localised but would need immediate treatment of nine rounds of
chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
“Our world was turned upside down.
“In September 2020, after months of treatment, we were given the news that the cancer had gone and the treatment had been successful.
“She is now almost three years all clear and we can’t even believe it happened. All we can do is hope and pray she stays well.”
Morven, a passionate footballer,
revealed her future aspirations in the film, saying her greatest achievement so far was to be signed by Rangers Academy.
She said: “To play for Chelsea and have five Ballon d’Ors when I’m 21.
“I achieve high.” Morven’s film can be viewed at tinyurl. com/ 3mrbpt7m
She encouraged other young people going through cancer, stating that they don’t have to stop just because they are in hospital.
Morven said: “Whenever you get a chance, get out, keep fit and just do the things you want to do. You don’t need to think of yourself as different to anyone else.”
Amar Naher, chief executive officer of Children with Cancer UK, said: “We are delighted to hear Morven is thriving and we are very grateful she is helping us raise awareness about sarcoma during Sarcoma Awareness Month.”
“We believe that every child and young person deserves to have their whole life ahead of them, but cancer is still the biggest cause of death in children under the age of 15.
“Faster diagnosis of childhood, teenage and young adult cancers, and better, kinder treatments mean more children will survive without the life- inhibiting side effects that can often come with remission.”
Children with Cancer UK invested more than £ 4 million into life- saving research in 2023, funding 10 research projects.