Published: Tuesday, 11th December, 2007 10:00
BRAVE SONYA'S CANCER BATTLE
By Andrew Weston
Print Article
AWARD: Sonya now wants to train as a bereavement counsellor
A COURAGEOUS cancer sufferer has been named one of the UK’s bravest women.
Battling Sonya Stewart, 26, has fought the disease since she was a new born baby.
She has been in and out of hospital her entire life, fighting back from set back after set back whilst at the same time ignoring her pain to care for sick kids.
Now the Balloch Braveheart has been recognised by a leading women’s magazine — Best — as one of the nine bravest women in Great Britain.
Sonya said: “I was only twelve weeks old when I was diagnosed with neuroblastoma — a cancer of the nervous system,”
“I had intensive chemotherapy, radiotherapy and surgery to remove a tumour on my spine.
“I was always in and out of hospital as a baby.”
However, her troubles didn’t end there.
Before she reached five her cancer came back twice.
On both occasions she managed to beat it but the cancer left her confined to a wheelchair.
Then, in 2000, her kidneys were starting to fail — a side effect of all the chemotherapy that she had as a youngster.
Sonya’s only hope for survival was a kidney transplant as her weight plummeted from eight stone to just five.
Despite feeling depressed and drained both physically and mentally she found comfort by helping out at Robin House — a hospice for sick children.
Sonya said: “I’m full of energy and am so grateful to mum for all she’s done for me.
“I now plan to train as a bereavement counsellor.”
Del.icio.us
Digg
Facebook
Reddit
Stumbleupon
Christmas songs played to sharks