Maria names a star each year to celebrate her recovery from cancer and beautiful daughter Mia.
Maria was diagnosed with cancer in 2017 at the age of just 27. Later that year she was referred to her consultant Dr Aisha Miah at The Royal Marsden where she had chemotherapy, radiotherapy and surgery. Maria has since been given the 'all clear' and names a star each year for Dr Miah, to thank her for her support.
Watch our Celebrate a Life video featuring Maria talking about her stars:
“I knew I wanted to be a mother one day, that’s always been really important to me. My cancer diagnosis put that in doubt, but when I met Dr Miah, she was so amazing. She made the suggestion of freezing my eggs and put me in contact with the hospital to start the egg retrieval process.”
Maria and her husband are now the proud parents of three children. Their eldest daughter is named Mia after her consultant, who didn’t only treat her cancer but helped them build their family.
“We all experience cancer some way and somehow in our lives, whether it's an uncle, a grandparent or a friend. First it was me, then my sister was diagnosed, and I have also lost two uncles and an auntie to cancer.
"It’s horrible but you know when you come out the other side, life feels different and I want to celebrate this chance at life again.
“I need to celebrate every day, the ones who are gone, but also me and my baby. So I name a star for all of us.”
Maria’s cancer diagnosis
"At the time I was diagnosed, I was very active and I was doing a lot of sport. I had just started kickboxing, and then at some point my leg started hurting really badly.
"After a couple months of physiotherapy, the pain was only getting worse to the point that sometimes I couldn't walk. My physiotherapist was actually the one that got worried and advised I should go and have an MRI.
"Following an MRI and then an urgent biopsy, I was told that it’s not good news and I was diagnosed with Synovial sarcoma - a rare form of cancer that develops around the joints. I'd never heard of people getting cancer in their limbs before. I never thought something like this could happen to me.
"At the time, I had a new job in banking, a new boyfriend, plans to go to on holiday to New York – I was so excited for the future. Then your world just crashes down, everything fell apart in an instant.
A turning point at The Royal Marsden
"I was referred to The Royal Marsden and the months of treatment that followed were really, really difficult. I had chemotherapy, radiotherapy and then surgery in September 2017. But Dr Miah was amazing and really helped me look forward to the future.
"We were so thankful to Dr Miah for supporting us so when my baby was born, there was no doubt we should call her Mia.
"I feel like this whole experience has turned me into the person that I am today and the mother I am today. I am so much more grateful for everything I have.”
Maria also attends the Celebrate a Life carol services and says 'Every year is beautiful and every year we love to make our way here and be part of Celebrate a Life.'
Will you name a star for someone special?
Behind every star is a story, and Celebrate a Life is a unique way to celebrate those most special to you. Name a star this year and make a vital difference to the lives of cancer patients and their families.