Pippa, 7, stays upbeat through all the chemo

WARRIOR . . . Pippa Tierney (right) with her parents Nicola and Mark, and sister Ava

A BRAVE Royton girl remains in high spirits, despite being severely ill and facing the prospect of being on dialysis.

Seven-year-old "Warrior" Pippa Tierney was diagnosed with bi-lateral Wilms' tumour last November and has a tumour on both kidneys. She has had 13 rounds of chemotherapy at Manchester Children's Hospital.

She had an 18cm-long tumour, which dad Mark said was the first time the hospital had seen such an instance.

Next month, she will go back to hospital for an operation to remove her right kidney and possibly the left one, too.

This would mean Pippa being on dialysis. She will need to be cancer-free for two years before she can have a kidney transplant.

Signs

Mark runs his own business, All Aqua Installation Ltd. Mum Nicola has had to stop working at the business to take care of Pippa. They have another daughter Ava (nine).

Pippa's symptoms included having dry skin, being sick and having a lump on her side. Her worried parents took her to the walk-in centre at the Integrated Care Centre in Oldham town centre and they were immediately referred to the hospital.

Nicola said: "For three or four weeks she was under the weather, but we had no idea. Looking back, there were signs. She was retching before school and before bed-time.

"I wouldn't have found the lump had I not done a course in massage. It started growing.

"It happened so quickly. We were in the walk-in centre on Sunday and by Monday, we were on the cancer ward."

Pippa has been too poorly to attend classes at St Anne's CE Primary School, in Royton. But a tutor goes to her house two or three times a week to make sure she does not fall behind.

Dad Mark (41) said: "She is very, very brave. She doesn't let it get her down. She's always in high spirits. It's a struggle, but you just have to deal with it when you're in this situation."

Nicola added: "She has been brilliant. She's an absolute warrior.

"She's responding well to chemo, she just looks at the positives. She is very strong-willed. She's never felt sorry for herself. She's being sick at the moment, but she gets on with it and doesn't complain.

"If anyone can get through it, it's her. She's got no hair and she's rocking it! She's not bothered.

"I have had skin cancer, back in 2005. Fortunately, I had an operation to have a mole removed and the surrounding area, so I didn't have chemo."

Mark's company is a recommended installer for Dale Bathrooms, in Stockfield Mill, Chadderton. When staff at the company found out about Pippa's illness, they decided to raise money at an International Women's Day charity event, with stalls and raffles, to go towards the Manchester Children's Hospital ward 84, where Pippa is being treated.

Amanda Delaney, from Dale Bathrooms, said: "Mark is one of our fitters and when we heard about Pippa we spoke to him and told him we would donate to Manchester Children's Hospital. We just thought 'this is somebody close to our heart' and we thought it was a nice way to raise money.

"We raised £685. Pippa was there. She is very shy, but it was amazing to see her."

Nicola and Mark have been overwhelmed by all the support.

Nicola said: "You realise how many nice people you have got around you. It was brilliant of Amanda from Dale Bathrooms to do that. The doctors and nurses are amazing."

The couple have asked parents to be vigilant if they notice anything.

"I don't want people to get paranoid," Nicola said. "We just want to raise awareness."

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