Family's plea to save dream Disney trip for girl, 6, left blind by brain tumour
The family of a six-year-old whose brain tumour diagnosis left her blind just weeks after receiving tickets to Walt Disney World are trying to save her dream trip after insurance costs spiralled.
Sienna was ecstatic to get tickets for a once-in-a-lifetime trip with her family to Florida from Santa at Christmas.
But on 9 February, a routine eye appointment showed swelling on her optic nerve, and a brain scan the same night confirmed she had a tumour.
It cannot be surgically removed and Sienna has begun an 18-month course of chemotherapy, but the tumour has caused her to lose her eyesight.
Jessica GillAs the family grappled with the devastating news, they also found out Sienna's travel insurance would be void due to her condition, and a suitable insurer would now cost more than £5,000.
"I just couldn't believe it, she'd been so excited and I just couldn't do it to her," said Sienna's mum, Emma Louise Lloyd, 37, from Aberdare, Rhondda Cynon Taf.
The four-week trip to Florida was booked for the end of October and the travel insurance originally cost £232 to cover the five family members, but now Sienna's cover alone is £5,083. A fundraiser has been launched to help cover the cost.
The itinerary is "jam packed" with plans including meeting princesses and feeding dolphins.
Recalling the surprise on Christmas Day, Emma said Sienna, her sister Amelia, 12, and their six cousins found out about the trip through a letter from Mickey Mouse.
"It was the last surprise, we had all the children, all of her cousins sat here... it was just magical, they were all screaming they were," she said.
"They were just all bouncing around so happy."
Just five weeks later, Emma noticed Sienna was holding her tablet close to her face, so booked a routine eye appointment to check.
It revealed swelling behind Sienna's eyes and Emma "knew it was going to be bad".
Jessica GillThey went to Prince Charles Hospital for a CT scan where it was revealed Sienna had a brain tumour.
Sienna was then taken by ambulance to Noah's Ark Children's Hospital in Cardiff for urgent treatment, including the insertion of an emergency shunt and a major brain operation that left her in intensive care.
"We didn't come home for about three weeks," said Emma.
Doctors told the family the tumour could not be surgically removed and Sienna has now begun an 18-month course of chemotherapy.
Her diagnosis is a grade 1 glioma, a slow-growing low grade brain tumour.
Symptoms depend on tumour location, but may include headaches, seizures and cognitive changes.
But Sienna's family said her eyesight getting worse was the only symptom she displayed.
Jessica GillThe glioma caused Sienna to lose her eyesight, though her family remain hopeful she may regain some vision in time.
"I'm still processing it now, it's been a crazy few weeks she had the surgery quite quick, biopsy, she started her chemo," said Emma.
Sienna's aunt Jessica Gill realised the insurance would be an issue, and said GreatCover insurance told them it had been voided for travelling because of Sienna's diagnosis, but she was still insured for cancellation.
She found a specialist policy to allow the trip to go ahead, but with the existing cost of the trip already very high, the family said they could not afford the additional cost.
GreatCover has been approached for comment.
A fundraiser has generated £3,800 to help Sienna take the once-in-a-lifetime trip.
Any leftover funds will be sent to Noah's Ark Children's Hospital and Ronald McDonald House, which provides free accommodation to families of children being treated at the hospital.
Among it all, Sienna's family said she had remained happy and brave.
"She's been unbelievable," said Emma, before turning to her daughter sitting next to her on the sofa and saying: "You're my little star, aren't you."
