Mya's Story

The New Oxford Children's Hospital is a fantastic place helping 65,000 poorly youngsters each and every year, some of them who have life-threatening and prolonging conditions requiring years of specialised care.

One of them is a very brave little girl from Cowley, Mya Harris. Read Mya's story below...

Read other hearwarming stories of young patients who your money this year will help...

Mya, 6, was born in August 2002 pre-natally with Spina Bifida ('split spine') and has come through so much down the years since her birth suffering from horrific pain and discomforts from her medical condition. Now into her childhood she continues to benefit from the excellent and loving care of the doctors and nurses at Oxford Children's Hospital, who, had it not been for the experts could have had a very different consequence instead. 

Within 24 hours of being born, she had her first operation to close the  hole in her lower back, leaving her with mobility problems and ever since medical intervention from the very day one. 7 days later, Mya underwent another procedure to insert a shunt in her skull for 'Hydrocephalus', a rare condition of the brain where there is excess fluid within the brain. 

Within just 6 years she has undergone many various operations, but despite it all she always shines through and has not let her crippling illness stop her from showing true courage and smiling - even bringing smiles to everyone who meets her due to her lovely character of personality and 'courage' that she beams through every day.  

Her most recent courage of pain was in January, when she underwent a painful hip reconstruction operation - and is likely to undergo more treatment later this year. 

Mya is a little super star for everything she's been through in her young life already, she's only just recovered from a major hip reconstruction operation - but the pain she endures every day doesn't stop her from smiling and enjoying life to the full, and she together with her family particularly dad Dale are championing this, another Children's Hospital supporter Andrew Baker's Play2Give, with Mya watching her father from the sidelines on the big day!

Andrew first met the Harris family, a remarkable family, when Dale took part in the 6-a-side football tournament last July, as he took part with his work team, Elmer Cotton, competing against dozens of other teams - he raised nearly £500 for the tournament last year! They are simply amazing. 

Dale has taken part in many exploits himself - some daredaring - to say thanks back to this incredible children's hospital for the loving care the medical experts have shown Mya for the 'brave' fight of adversity she's battled against the odds with. Exploits Dale's done include the OX5 Run at Blenheim Palace 6 times, abseiling down the JR Hospital on cold Sunday mornings, appearing and taking part in football tournaments including Play2Give, and raising awareness every step of the way. 

Mya is a little children's champion and how can anyone not be moved to help CHOx with this incredible story... GO ON, MAKE A DIFFERENCE... Sign up NOW!!

 

Hear Dale's 2-part BBC Oxford interview here, explaining the importance of the hospital to the family and his superb fund raising efforts for CHOx.

Audio 1 | Audio 2 (copyright BBC Oxford)