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Karis had many medical conditions throughout her life and was poorly from a baby, spending the first 7 months of her life in hospital. At just 2 years of age, she was diagnosed with an Aggressive Malignant Brain Tumour called a SPNET (Supratentorial Primitive Neuro Ectodermal Tumour) and sadly in 2017 her family were told that the tumour was actually called an ETMR (Embryonal Tumour with Multi-layered Rosettes), also aggressive and malignant. Karis had the tumour removed quickly and endured high doses of chemotherapy, twice daily radiotherapy for 6 weeks, followed by maintenance chemotherapy for a year.

Times were so tough and the treatment caused so many other medical, emotional and social problems. It was like living on a time bomb, but Karis’ family tried to remain positive and take one day at a time.

Then, in 2018, Karis was diagnosed with another Aggressive Malignant Brain Tumour and after having a biopsy, her family were told the devastating news that this tumours, Glioblastoma Multiforme, was untreatable and unremovable, as it was growing like a tentacle through her brain and not like her first tumour, which was round and was easier to be removed.

Great Ormond Street Hospital, who had looked after Karis for a lot of her life, could now only offer a chemotherapy drug that may slow the growth of the tumour down slightly but nothing that would unfortunately prevent the inevitable. These are the words no parent, grandparent, sibling, cousin, aunt or uncle would ever want to hear.

Karis died peacefully in Little Havens hospice on Friday 21st September 2018. Just 3 months short of her 11th birthday.