'Happy and bubbly' young Stafford girl had to learn to walk again after being diagnosed with cancer

Mabel Rose Horne was told she had Acute lymphoblastic leukemia in October of 2023.

Initial treatment weakened her muscles so much she was unable to stand unaided for several months.

Though she is now back at school, the youngster still faces another nine months of treatment for the cancer, which affects the blood and bone marrow.

Mum Heather recalls the moment her and her husband, Simon, were given the news their young daughter had cancer. 

She said: "We were completely devastated. Cancer had crossed my mind because she’d been really tired and her face was swollen, but I never thought it could really be that. 

"We just cried and cried. So many thoughts were going round in my head, but my biggest fear was that we were going to lose her."

Mabel had been put on antibiotics a suspected infection just before she started school in September 2023 after her parents noticed she was tired and had swollen glands.

One day, the youngster fell asleep as soon as she got back home from school, so her mum took her to be examined by a GP who noticed she had an enlarged liver and spleen.

Within hours, Heather and Simon were being told their daughter had Acute lymphoblastic leukemia by specialists at Royal Stoke University Hospital.

Heather added: "She’s such a happy and bubbly girl but when she was first given treatment it was really tough.

"Within days of being on steroids her personality changed, and she became quite angry and upset. 

"During that first phase of treatment, we felt like we’d lost her. She was so weak she couldn’t even stand up, so she was in a wheelchair for three months and had to have physio to learn to walk again.”

Mabel missed so much school that she repeated her Reception year and has just started to settle into Year One.

Now, the schoolgirl has been hailed for her bravery with a Cancer Research UK for Children & Young People Star Award, in partnership with TK Maxx.

The awards are backed by a host of famous faces, including celebrity chef Jean-Christophe Novelli, TV personality Dr Ranj and children’s TV favourite Mister Maker.

Every child who is nominated receives one of the awards, which are open to all under 18s who live in the UK and have been treated for the disease within the past five years.

As well as a star-shaped trophy, Mabel also received a £50 TK Maxx gift card, t-shirt and a certificate signed by the celebrities, while her 14-year-old sister, Darcie, and nine-year-old brother, Freddie, were given a certificate.

Heather said Mabel feels "proud of herself" when she looks at her trophy, which the mum-of-three described as a "symbol of everything she has had to cope with". 

Cancer Research UK funds a dedicated clinical trials unit for children’s cancers at Birmingham Children’s Hospital. 

The only one of its kind in the UK, it coordinates ground-breaking research to make innovative new treatments available to children and young people with the disease.

Cancer Research UK spokesperson for Staffordshire, Paula Young, said: “Mabel is a real star who has been through so much at such a young age and it’s an absolute privilege to be able to celebrate her courage with a Star Award.

“Cancer in children and young people is different to cancer in adults, from the types of cancer to the impact of treatment and many may experience serious long-term side effects. 

"That’s why we’re supporting dedicated research to find new and less toxic ways to beat this devastating disease.

“We’re urging people to nominate inspirational children like Mabel for a Star Award now, so that many more can receive the acknowledgement they so richly deserve."

People can nominate a child for a Star Award by visiting cruk.org/starawards