A teenager who helped raise more than £20,000 for charity while being treated for a brain tumour is "over the moon" to have been nominated for a Pride of Britain award.
Maya Tohid was aged 12 last June when she was diagnosed with a rare craniopharyngioma, which typically grows near the base of the brain and mainly affects young people.
Although it is benign, Maya, now 13, was so ill that her parents feared they might lose her.
But as soon as the courageous youngster began to perk up she started fundraising for the charity that had helped her and her family during the worst of their ordeal.
Mum Mahta, 43, says: "Maya told us, 'I just want to give back." The family's nightmare began when Maya starting having severe headaches every day.
Mahta and husband Reza, 47, took her to A&E. In fact, they took her three times, begging doctors to do more tests. Engineer Mahta says: "The headaches were so severe she was waking up in the middle of the night. We had no idea what to do."
Bouts of vomiting soon followed and Mahta's doctor friend told the family to get her looked at again.
Returning to hospital for a fourth time five weeks after the symptoms started Maya had an MRI. All the family, including her sister Isla, eight, went to hospital for the results.
This story is from the June 20, 2024 edition of Daily Mirror UK.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the June 20, 2024 edition of Daily Mirror UK.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
THE CLOUD OF TURN
Pep's strugglers slip to 22nd as Ederson clanger puts Juve on road to famous win
SAKA JUST TWO GOOD
THIS is rapidly turning into Bukayo Saka's most important season for Arsenal.
AULD ON TIGHT!
It's England v Scotland and a reunion with Rangers for former Celtic chief Ange and his injury-hit squad as Romero says sorry for swipe at club spending
OVER & DAN NOW
Ruben: Our vision is clear
SAUDI 2034 WORLD CUP CONTROVERSY
Forget human rights, money talks... and the FA should be ashamed they stayed silent
BREWING UP TIME!
Rhian keeps Blades on the boil
CLUCKY IN LOVE
Romance blossomed for Sherrock & Menzies over a KFC
PEATY COULD STILL MAKE A SPLASH IN LA
Olympic swim hero weighing up 2028 bid
RACING IS AT 'CRITICAL POINT'
RACING'S governance structure is \"not fit for the 21st century\" and the sport \"paralysed by selfinterest\", according to the head of racing's media rights arm.
Getting figgy with it
Passion for panettone has sparked a trend for celebrating with fruit puds, experts say