Girl, 9, fights back from THREE brain surgeries takes on mud challenge (2024)

A ‘real superhero’ who has had brain surgery three times to treat a rare cancer is taking on a mud-splattered charity challenge with her best pals.

Nine-year-old Kara McInally will sound the horn at Cancer Research UK’s 5k race for kids next Saturday before taking on the obstacle course.

The schoolgirl, from Motherwell, Lanarkshire, first became ill just before Christmas 2021.

Her parents Laura, 36, and Kevin, 47, took the youngster to an optician for an eye test after she complained of mild but frequent headaches.

After a swollen optic nerve was detected, she was immediately referred to hospital where further scans confirmed a tumour.

She was operated on just four days later at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children, inGlasgow, where surgeons removed a 4cm growth from her brain.

Although Kara recovered well, the family faced an agonising wait over the festive period for test results and on January 10, 2022, doctors confirmed she had cancer.

The Ladywell Primary pupil was diagnosed with a grade three anaplastic ependymoma tumour and travelled to Manchester for seven weeks of proton beam therapy away from her baby-sister Khloe.

However, the family were dealt a hammer blow just months later in November, when tests showed the tumour had grown back and she required further surgery.

Mrs McInally recalled: ‘We felt completely blindsided the day her oncologist told us her MRI showed possible recurrence and surgery was the only option.

‘It felt like we were being thrown back a year but once again we had to trust in the surgeon’s words when he told us that, “I’ll take care of her”. We were fortunate to have the best medical team.’

Despite the successful operation, in the spring of 2023 Kara endured a third surgery amid suspicion the tumour had returned.

But to the family’s relief, biopsy tests confirmed there was only scar tissue and the schoolgirl was told she was cancer free in June.

And to mark the first anniversary of the good news, Kara will take part in the fundraising challenge, Pretty Muddy Kids, with her best friends who have stood by her throughout her treatment.

Mrs McInally, who with her husband set up a social media account to record her daughter’s cancer journey, added: ‘It was the worst feeling in the world when Kara was diagnosed with cancer. But sometimes real superheroes live in the hearts of small children righting really big battles.

‘Kara was supported by her friends throughout, ensuring she was never alone in her fight. They have always stuck by her.

‘There were many gestures of kindness from Kara’s besties. When Kara was going back to school after her second cycle of chemotherapy and had lost the vast majority of her hair a group of her friends turned up to school all wearing a baseball cap just like the one Kara was wearing.

‘They did that so Kara didn’t feel alone or different going in to school that day. It was a form of unity to support Kara that I’ll always be grateful for.’

The schoolgirl is one of around 320 young people who are diagnosed with cancer in Scotland every year and last year Cancer Research UK spent around £33 million on research north of the Border.

The Pretty Muddy races are organised around Scotland this month and Kara and her cousin Lola McGranaghan, nine, have already raised £840 for the charity ahead of the race at Strathclyde Country Park.

Lisa Adams, of Cancer Research UK in Scotland, said: ‘We are grateful to Kara and family for their support.

‘We’d also like to say a giant thank you to Kara’s friends. We’d love for as many people as possible across Scotland to get muddy to help raise funds for life-saving research this June.

‘No matter how cancer affects us, life is worth racing for. Race for Life and Pretty Muddy have the power not only to transform lives, but to save them.’

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