After a five-year-old developed a neck lump hours after being hit by a football, scans and a biopsy revealed stage-four neuroblastoma that had spread to her chest, spine and neck. Harper underwent 80 days of chemotherapy followed by stem cell therapy, radiotherapy and six months of immunotherapy, and was placed in critical care twice. Declared in remission in late August, she will have scans every three months because there is a 40%–50% risk of recurrence in the first two years. Local businesses and community groups have funded a Disney World trip for her next summer.
Football Blow Led To Discovery Of Daughter’s Stage-Four Neuroblastoma — Community Funds Disney Trip
Harper was five years old when she was diagnosed with neuroblastoma [Supplied]
When Aaron’s five-year-old daughter Harper developed a lump on her neck just hours after being struck in the face by a football at school, he expected a harmless cyst. Instead, scans and tests revealed stage-four neuroblastoma, a childhood cancer that had spread to her chest, spine and neck.
Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust (NUH) said the football did not cause the cancer, but the lump that appeared after the injury prompted the scans and biopsy that led to the diagnosis. Harper, now seven and from Pinxton in Derbyshire, received care at King’s Mill Hospital and Queen’s Medical Centre (QMC) in Nottingham.
Harper was placed in critical care twice during her treatment [Supplied]
Diagnosis and treatment
On 4 March 2025 Harper’s older sister noticed a large swelling on her neck. Aaron took her to Ripley Urgent Treatment Centre expecting a routine check, but clinicians recommended further tests at King’s Mill. Blood tests and CT scans raised immediate concern and Harper was transferred to QMC because doctors feared the mass might be compressing her windpipe.
At QMC clinicians confirmed the tumour was stage four and had spread through her nervous system. Aaron recalled the shock of the diagnosis:
"I never expected it. Never in a million years did I think it was cancer. I broke down. I was worried all the time."
Aaron said the family were "living three months at a time" [BBC]
Harper underwent an intensive treatment programme: 80 days of chemotherapy followed by stem cell therapy, radiotherapy and six months of immunotherapy. During treatment she was admitted to critical care on two occasions, and doctors twice advised the family to prepare for the worst.
Recovery and community support
Harper was declared in remission in late August. She will continue to have surveillance scans every three months because there remains an approximately 40%–50% chance of recurrence within the first two years. "We’re living three months at a time," Aaron said. "You’ve just got to stay strong for her. Be there every single day for her and hope things work out."
The family received widespread local support: pub landlords, businesses and the Derbyshire United football club raised funds so Harper can take her dream trip to Disney World in Florida next summer. Harper is said to be "really excited" to meet the princesses from her favourite films.
NUH and the hospitals involved provided the clinical investigations and emergency care that led to the diagnosis and supported Harper through treatment. She will remain under regular follow-up as part of her recovery plan.
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