'Doctors ignored my child’s cancer and said she was jealous of her brother'

Tia Ali and her mum Shaima want to help the Young Lives v Cancer charity, backed by the Daily Mirror, to provide families with the support they need this Christmas

There’s one thing cancer survivor Tia Ali wants above all this Christmas – to help the charity that gave her family a lifeline.

The 11-year-old was just four when she first fell ill, going from an outgoing, sporty child to one who was constantly exhausted, pale and in constant pain. Yet mum Shaima Ahmed had to take her to see six doctors before she got answers. Three of those, even involved trips to A&E. Shaima, 41, was told her daughter had everything from a pulled muscle, low iron to a cold. One even suggested she was just “jealous” of her younger brother, Ryan.

She said: “I started to think, ‘Am I going mad?’. The doctor said maybe she’s jealous of her brother as he’s special needs and gets attention and that’s why she’s been in pain. It was only on the seventh visit in so many weeks, that she was given a blood test which revealed she had leukaemia. I thought maybe they’re gonna tell me she’s got a bone condition. I never expected it to be cancer.”

But getting the diagnosis was just the beginning of six years of pain – not only was Tia sent for chemotherapy at London’s Great Ormond Street Hospital but after going into remission after two years of constant care, the cancer returned in 2021. But the ordeal was made worse as Shaima, a university lecturer, and her dad, Amr Ali, 44, a visual merchandiser, who now live in London, had to leave their jobs to care for Tia and their son.

It was then that Young Lives Vs Cancer, formerly Clic Sargent, became invaluable to the family. “The charity came and helped with grants and applications like Disability Living Allowance”, says Shaima. “When you’re so stressed out you don’t have the time and are not in the right mindset to do all these things, to know what you can and can’t get, it’s nice to know someone else is watching out for you.”

They also supported Tia when she heard the cancer had returned and would need a bone marrow transplant. “I was very confused and angry because I didn’t know that cancer could come back,” says Tia. She underwent the transplant last December and it was a success.

And after not being able to attend school properly for seven years, and missing the whole of year five, she returned this September and is looking forward to enjoying the Christmas activities, like others her age. And it’s a reason why the family are backing the Daily Mirror’s Christmas charity appeal. With your help, the charity can provide families with the support they need, whether it’s covering travel costs or ensuring they don’t have to choose between heating or eating while their child receives chemotherapy.

Shaima added: “The charity came and found us and stepped in straight away. They helped us with holidays, took Tia on trips and supported us with money and grants. It would be great to be able to help the charity continue to help families, like they did with mine when we needed it.”

How to donate

Just a small donation could make a world of difference...

£5 helps to pay for parking and petrol, so young people with cancer, and their families, can get to hospital without worrying about cost.

£10 pays towards a Young Lives vs Cancer crisis grant for families who are struggling with the cost of living.

£20 buys a coat for a child or young person with cancer to help keep them warm through the winter, when they really feel the cold due to the effects of their treatment.

£24 would pay for one hour of a specialist Young Lives vs Cancer social worker’s time, so that children and young people with cancer, and their families, get the right care and support at the right time. £38 could pay for a child with cancer’s family to stay overnight in one of Young Lives vs Cancer’s Homes from Home, providing free self-catering accommodation near specialist children’s cancer hospitals.

Post cheques to...

Freepost Plus RTKS-ZCXS-HSBT, Young Lives vs Cancer (Mirror Appeal), 126 Fairlie Road, Slough, SL1 4PY

Donate by Phone...

0300 330 0803 (lines open Monday to Friday 9am-5pm, not including Bank Holidays)

Donate online...

www.younglivesvscancer.org.uk/mirror-appeal

Text to Donate...

Text MIRRORFIVE to 70085 to donate £5, text MIRRORTEN to 70085 to donate £10 or text MIRRORTWENTY to 70085 to donate £20. Texts will cost the donation amount plus one standard network rate message.