Girl, 3, battling brain cancer goes to prom early because she may not live to see her own

A BRAVE three-year-old girl battling an aggressive form of brain cancer went to prom early as she may not live to see her own.

Lana Nixon accompanied big sister Neve, 16, to her school bash weeks after being told her cancer was incurable.

She wore a pink princess dress and bow – leaving mum Gemma, 34, emotional as she is so used to seeing her daughter in hospital pyjamas.

Gemma, from Sunderland, told Chronicle Live : “It was so emotional for us all to be together as a family and for Lana to be part of her sister's special day.

"She loved the car and said her and Neve were princesses that day."

Lana also travelled in style to the prom – with Sheb Ahktar, 36, director of Autograph Prestige, driving the sisters to prom in his Rolls Royce.

'SHE WAS SO HAPPY AND SMILING'

He said: “On the day, Lana was so happy, smiling and active just like any other three-year-old.

“It's just heartbreaking. I can’t imagine what the family are going through and I'll make sure that I will help in anyway so the family get what they need for Lana.”

Mum-of-three Gemma and partner Andrew Haswell, 40, have both quit their jobs to make sure they can spend as much time as possible with Lana.

The youngster was a normal and happy two-year-old but at the end of September last year, she started being sick several times a week.

Her condition worsened and she struggled to walk and lost half a stone due to constant vomiting.

But stumped medics put her illness down a common virus, water infection or a possible stomach problem until Lana was given an MRI scan in November.

'IT WAS SO HARSH'

Just 20 minutes later, her parents were given the devastating news that Lana had a large mass on her brain and would need emergency surgery to drain the fluid making her sick.

Since then, the youngster has undergone gruelling chemotherapy, which Gemma struggled to watch her daughter go through.

She said: "It was so harsh and she suffered every possible side effect.

"She vomited blood, horrendous nose bleeds, her mouth broke down and bled, she was so poorly. We spent a lot of time in isolation.”

At the beginning of the month, the family were told the tumour is very rare and aggressive with a high chance it could return and be harder to treat.

Lana now needs regular scans, lots of medication and physiotherapy as she needs to learn how to walk again after spending eight months in bed.

Friends set up a JustGiving page to help reduce the family's finical burden after quitting work and to help give Lana what she might need or want to make lasting special memories.

To donate, click here https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/lifeforlana

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