Hello, My name is Carrie and this July, my 24 year old daughter Maia was diagnosed with unfavourable Stage 2 Hodgkins Lymphoma. Maia first noticed a lump on her neck and eventually her neck became swollen and painful. She was dismissed by 3 doctors previously (a mix of NHS and private) before the 4th doctor arranged for Maia to have a ultrasound guided biopsy. During the biopsy, the clinical radiologist muttered under his breath "it's lymphoma!"

Maia asked the radiologist what he meant by this and he said he was 90% sure it was lymphoma. As you can imagine, waiting for the biopsy results was incredibly stressful.

After diagnosis, Maia had a pet scan that revealed lymphoma in both sides of her neck and one armpit. She also had a 7cm mass in her chest, close to her heart and because of this Maia had to have a tough chemotherapy regimen of Escalated BEACOPDac, meaning very intensive treatment cycles of 21 days.

Maia had to have a PICC line fitted which was painful due to Maia having tiny veins.

An interim PET scan showed there was no metabolic activity but potential issues around Maia's heart, meaning Maia needed to have a heart scan before her next chemotherapy cycle. The heart scan revealed no issues and Maia was put on a new chemotherapy cycle of ABVD.

In November, Maia was admitted to hospital as she had a raised temperature and was put on medication as she was neutropenic.

Apart from the usual side effects of chemotherapy, Maia suffered with chest pains and neuropathy. Maia was advised by her specialist to reconsider her career in conservation, due to the carcinogens involved.

Maia is a wonderful young lady. Prior to her illness, fitness and healthy living were an important part of her life. Maia was an elite athelete and has represented GB and England as a fencer. Maia had taken a short break from fencing to concentrate on her studies and was going to start fencing again this year, but this is another important thing for Maia that has to be paused or even stopped.

Maia had recently completed further studies to become a Cultural and Heritage Conservator. Maia was offered work experience at Oxford University Museum of Natural History and conserved a 19th century taxidermy grey wolf.

Maia was able to see this on display last spring but her trip to Oxford was ruined due to painful lumps on her neck, which unbeknown to her at that time, was the lymphoma.

Maia was advised by her specialist to reconsider her career in conservation, due to the carcinogens involved. Maia is also suffering with neuropathy after having intensive chemotherapy, and doesn't know how long this will last.

Due to having to start a new career, Maia has accepted a place to study remotely at the University of Law on a law conversion course next year. Maia would like to eventually work in museum law.

Maia does not qualify for any student loans as she has already completed a MA course. She is unable to work currently due to the lymphoma and her treatment.

Maia has been incredibly brave throughout this and has had to deal with so much at such a young age.

We are so proud of her and are hoping that this fundraising might ease some of her financial responsibilities.