Awards for Seaham siblings BOTH diagnosed with cancer as babies

Maya Bainbridge was just two-months-old when she was diagnosed with bilateral retinoblastoma – a type of eye cancer where both eyes are affected – in February 2020.

Later that year when the family welcomed son Oscar, he was diagnosed with the same cancer in one of his eyes at just one-week-old.

The Seaham siblings, now aged two and one, were both found to carry a faulty gene known as RB1, inherited from mum Siani Metcalf, who also had retinoblastoma when she was ten-months-old.

Cancer Research UK for Children & Young People Star Award winners Maya and Oscar Bainbridge are ready for Christmas Picture: DS PHOTO-GRAPHY

Siani said: “Sadly because I had retinoblastoma when I was born and I inherited the gene, we knew there was a 50/50 chance that any children my partner Dan and I had could have the faulty gene.

“Of course that doesn’t stop the shock of hearing that your child has cancer and knowing that it is very uncertain how it develops in the eye and if treatment would be able to help.”

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Maya was treated at Birmingham Children's Hospital and by May 2020 her parents were told she was in remission and had retained vision in both her eyes.

The family faced treatment again when Oscar was induced and born three weeks early in November that same year and at the height of the Covid pandemic.

Cancer Research UK for Children & Young People Star Award Maya and Oscar Bainbridge, of Seaham

Dad Dan Bainbridge, 25, said: “Having seen Maya born with the gene, we were expecting the same again with Oscar, but sadly his cancer was more advanced.

"There were several tumours in one of his eyes, but his were more aggressive and had formed in positions affecting his vision, so his treatment has been more intense and as time went on the cancer also developed in his right eye.”

Oscar began chemotherapy two weeks after diagnosis and completed the maximum six cycles possible. He also had a feeding tube for the first six months of his life.

He began laser therapy after a month of chemotherapy and has continued with that every four weeks since.

Siani, 21, who works at Hays Travel, said: “We didn’t realise it was going to be so hard with Oscar. The treatment has been a lot more intense and he has been left blind in his left eye because of scar tissue.

"But fortunately, he doesn’t know any different and his eye assessments on his right eye have come back good so he just gets on with it.”

Cancer Research UK for Children & Young People Star Award Maya and Oscar Bainbridge, of Seaham

In recognition of the courage they have shown throughout their treatment, both children received a Cancer Research UK for Children & Young People Star Award, in partnership with TK Maxx.

Maya and Oscar were two of 15 children from across the UK recognised during a virtual awards show.

Hosted by children affected by the disease, it was filmed to highlight the impact cancer has on young lives and encourage more nominations for the accolade in the run up to Christmas.

The touching film sees the recipients walk on a red carpet and break-out their best dance moves in celebration of the award.

As part of the ceremony, Siani shares how important the awards have been to their children and how she hopes others will nominate their own loved ones.

Famous faces, including singer and songwriter Pixie Lott and TV personalities Dr Ranj and Joe Tasker made appearances to congratulate the winners and send them messages of support.

Dan said: “Maya adores her Cancer Research UK for Children & Young People Star Award and sings Twinkle Twinkle to it every day.

“They have been a really wonderful thing for our family. It was a nice way for the children to be recognised but not feeling sorry for them. Instead celebrating them and how brave they have been.

“We’re so proud of them both.

“Maya has taken it all in her stride and despite being so young has been there for her little brother throughout. Although her treatment has finished, she’ll continue to have check-ups until she’s five-years-old.

“It’s so important to keep raising awareness about what children and young people go through. It’s been lovely to see them both part of this Star Awards show. It’s given us all a real boost. We hope they inspire other families to get nominating.”

Retinoblastoma is a rare type of eye cancer and most commonly affects children under the age of five.

Around 36 children are diagnosed with retinoblastoma in England every year.

When a baby is growing in the womb the faulty gene causes the retina cells- known as retinoblasts – to grow out of control and develop into a cancerous tumour called retinoblastoma. If the tumour is not treated, the cells continue to grow.

The Cancer Research UK for Children & Young People Star Awards are open to all children under 18 who live in the UK and have been treated for cancer within the past five years.

There is no judging panel because the charity believes every child diagnosed with cancer deserves special recognition.

Every eligible child who is nominated receives a trophy, a £50 TK Maxx gift card, a t-shirt and a certificate signed by celebrities supporting the campaign. Their siblings also receive a certificate.

The Star Awards are run in partnership with TK Maxx, the biggest corporate supporter of Cancer Research UK’s work into children’s and young people’s cancers.

Since 2004, the retailer has raised more than £40m for vital research to help improve survival and reduce the long-term side effects of treatments.

Thanks to research the vast majority of children diagnosed with retinoblastoma now survive.

This is helped in part by Cancer Research UK, which worked to develop a test for the faulty gene for children with a family history of the disease, meaning they get early treatment when it’s more likely to be successful.

Siani said: “Having experienced retinoblastoma through our family, we know how vital research is into diagnosing and treating cancer.

“At times it’s felt like it’s all gone on for so long, especially with Oscar, you just wonder will it ever stop.

“But Maya is about to start nursery in January and the surgeons are hopeful Oscar’s tumours might finally be stabilising, so maybe 2022 might bring better things for us.

“We’re so grateful to our family who have helped massively during the last couple of years. It has been such a juggle with childcare for Maya, hospital visits with Oscar and Covid on top of it all. Dan and I are so thankful for all they’ve done.”

Lisa Millett, Cancer Research UK for Children & Young People spokesperson for the North East, said: “Maya and Oscar are real stars who have been through so much at such a young age. It has been an absolute privilege to be able to celebrate their courage with a Star Award and to mark the occasion with a special show.

“Around 65 children in the North East are diagnosed with cancer every year. Cancer in children and young people is different to cancer in adults, from the types of cancer to the impact of treatment – and many youngsters may experience serious long-term side effects.

"That’s why we’re supporting dedicated research to ensure more children and young people survive cancer with a good quality of life.

“We’re urging people to nominate inspirational children, so that many more can receive the acknowledgement they so richly deserve.”

To nominate a star visit cruk.org/starawards

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