Freya

For five-year-old Freya, the transition from 10 wonderful "summer of fun" days in Cyprus to the start of a new school year in September 2025 was supposed to be a time of excitement. Instead, it became the start of a courageous battle for her life.

What began as random episodes of nausea and headaches quickly escalated into daily morning vomiting and unsteadiness. After not being listened to at multiple visits to the GP, it was through a nurse at their local hospital that an emergency pediatric appointment was arranged. An emergency MRI soon revealed the devastating cause: a 3cm tumor in the posterior fossa of Freya’s brain.

Freya was immediately blue-lighted to Birmingham Children’s Hospital for further test, scans, and follow-ups with surgeons. On September 12, 2025, she endured a grueling 12-hour surgery to remove the tumor.

A Journey of Resilience

The surgery was difficult, and because of the tumor's location Freya developed Posterior Fossa Syndrome, a condition that left her temporarily unable to walk, talk, or swallow.

In the months that followed, Freya became a fixture in neuro-rehabilitation. Through intensive speech and language therapy, physiotherapy, and occupational therapy, she began to reclaim her independence. 

Today, her family is overjoyed to share the incredible functional progress she has made: she is talking again and walking with support.

"We couldn’t be any prouder of the progress she has made in this time," her parents shared.

While she had recently progressed to a soft diet, the cumulative effects of her final rounds of chemotherapy have made it difficult to maintain her weight, requiring the temporary support of an NG tube to ensure she stays strong for the finish line.

The Fight Against ATRT

Formal pathology confirmed a diagnosis of Atypical Teratoid Rhabdoid Tumor (ATRT), specifically the TYR subtype. Freya has shown incredible grit following the EURHAB protocol.

On December 9th, 2025, her family had to temporarily move 100 miles away from home to commence

30 sessions of proton beam therapy, which were completed on January 20th, 2026.

Recent Hurdles & The Shunt Surgery

In March 2026, a routine MRI showed enlarged ventricles. While the team initially took a "watch and wait" approach, Freya soon became sleepy and unresponsive. On March 12, after a complicated attempt at an ETV, Freya underwent surgery to have a VP shunt fitted. She recovered bravely and moved straight back into the fight, completing Round 11 of her chemotherapy shortly after.

The Final Push: Round 12

On April 3, 2026, Freya began her 12th round of chemotherapy. As she nears the finish line, the cumulative effects of treatment have become more visible. Due to a drop in weight, the difficult decision was made to re-insert her NG tube.

Her mother shared the heartbreak of that moment: "It broke my heart hearing her begging for another chance to show me she can eat and drink enough... but I recognize now it’s just a tool to get us through to the end of treatment. It's not forever!"

Faith as an Anchor

Despite the intensity of the treatment and the anxiety that comes with regular scans, Freya’s spirit remains unbroken. Whether navigating hospital stays or recovery milestones, she faces every day with a smile that inspires everyone around her.

"Even on the darkest of days, Freya continues to smile and fight like the warrior she is," her family says. "We really couldn’t be any prouder of her."

Follow Freya's ATRT Journey on Facebook at @freyas.atrt.journey on Instagram.