A SCHOOLGIRL lost the use of her legs, bladder and bowels after surgeons found five tumours in her brain and spine.

Bolton St Catherine’s Academy pupil Mia Dekker, aged 10, has been receiving treatment for a form of brain cancer since October after a scan for stomach pains and weakness in her legs revealed a mass on her spine.

The Breightmet youngster was transferred to Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital and underwent surgery to remove the mass when the tumours were discovered — two in her brain and three on her spine.

Surgeons worked for nine hours to remove part of the largest tumour but Mia lost the use of her legs and feet, bladder and bowels.

Her father Alex, of Greenroyd Avenue, Breightmet, aged 34, said: “Family life has been turned upside down since Mia’s diagnosis in late October.

“She has lost the use of her legs due to the size and location of the tumours in her spine and requires many hours of care throughout the day.

“We are in the process of finding a new place to live that is suitable for a wheelchair user — wide doorways, no steps, a wet room instead of a bathroom and so on.

“The care from Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital has been exemplary with a large team of nurses, doctors, physiotherapists, on hand to help with the various aspects of chemotherapy and radiotherapy side effects and the life changes brought on by sudden loss of mobility.”

Since starting treatment last year, Mia has made progress but still has a long way to go.

She will have three days of chemotherapy, one day of hydration and then a stem cell transplant.

She has physiotherapy twice a day, including floor work, learning to move from a wheelchair to a chair, swimming and using bars to try and walk.

Ronald McDonald House has provided accommodation close to the hospital for Mia’s mum Kirsty.

The temporary home has also enabled Mr Dekker, a senior technical engineer at Bolton IT firm OpenIP, and Mia’s brother Isaac, aged four, who goes to Bolton St Catherine’s Academy’s nursery, to spend more time with Mia.

Mr Dekker will be running the 10k business challenge at the Simplyhealth Great Manchester Run with colleagues from OpenIP in aid of Ronald McDonald House.

Andy Starr, MD said: “Mia is such a strong individual and will not give up without a fight.” The team is aiming to raise £10,000 overall for the charity from the run and other forthcoming events. The Great Manchester Run will take place on Sunday, May 28.