A mother has sent out a stark warning after a winter stomach bug 'saved her daughter's life'.
Molly Courtney said that she initially dismissed her child's state as 'tiredness', however, it was really the result of a hidden four-inch cancerous tumour.
Mia was more tired than usual in December 2024, though the concerns from her mum started to escalate when both of them got norovirus, and the little one experienced far worse stomach pains than Molly, even struggling to stand at a certain point.
A trip to the hospital resulted in the suggestion of issues with the six-year-old's spleen.
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But when Mia turned 'grey', a visit to A&E revealed that her red and white blood cells weren't normal and an ultrasound showed that the schoolgirl had an 11cm (4.3in) tumour in her left kidney.
Mia was diagnosed with stage two kidney cancer and a Wilms' tumour on New Year's Eve last year.
Wilms' tumour is a type of kidney cancer in children which primarily affects children under the age of five, as it is thought to be a result of specialised cells in the embryo known as metanephric blastema, according to the NHS.
These cells are part of the child's kidneys developing in the womb and while they usually disappear at birth, clusters of primitive kidneys, known as nephrogenic rests, can be found.
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While the causes are currently unknown, Molly says that the fact Mia had norovirus 'saved her life' as it caused bleeding in the tumour and highlighted the pain.
Following an operation to remove her left kidney, Mia underwent chemotherapy for six months before going into remission and ringing the bell in September this year.
Recalling the tumultuous period at the back end of last year, Devon-based Molly shared: "On Christmas day Mia's appetite had completely gone, she didn't want to eat anything.
"Two days later she started to become really ill, me and Mia both ended up getting norovirus, which was horrendous and it came with a lot of stomach pain."
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After being told of the rare kidney tumour, it was confirmed that 'it was a stage two Wilms' tumour', said Molly.
"It can go years without being diagnosed, we are grateful we are where we are and got it when we did," the mum went on, adding: "I was absolutely heartbroken, I felt like I was in a nightmare. I didn't think it was real."
An operation took place in February to remove the tumour and kidney which was ultimately successful, though Molly described the experience of seeing her daughter in intensive care as 'horrendous'.
She noted that Mia is feeling better and enjoys singing and dancing while wearing princess dresses, though she has to continue going for scans every three months for five years to monitor the cancer.
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Molly, who quit her kitchen assistant job to care for her daughter, aims to raise awareness for kidney cancer.
"Trust your gut if you feel like something isn't right, push for an answer. Keep an eye out for any swelling in the abdominal area and any changes that really don't sit right with you," she advised.
If you’ve been affected by any of these issues and want to speak to someone in confidence, contact Macmillan’s Cancer Support Line on 0808 808 00 00, 8am–8pm seven days a week.
Joshua Nair