Middleton’s 'mermaid in the making' battling stage 3 kidney cancer

Date published: 13 June 2023

The Langley and Middleton communities have pulled together to support their very own ‘mermaid in the making’ – three-year-old Sierra, who is bravely undergoing intensive treatment to fight stage 3 kidney cancer.

Sierra was diagnosed with a Wilms’ tumour on 31 March after a 10 hour visit to hospital after her mum, Lucy Henderson, found a lump following months of different illnesses.

After breaking the devastating news to older sister Bella, 12, Lucy tried telling her youngest daughter that “she had a bug in her tummy that the doctors would help us take out.”

Lucy said: “I had to try and quickly explain to Sierra so she wasn’t frightened and had an inkling of what would be happening.

“Sierra is sassy and point blank kicked off, ‘no, mummy, I don’t have a bug in my tummy, I eat strawberries and broccoli’. I tried again but she wasn’t happy or accepting, and showing signs of distress, confusion and anger.”

After waking up the next day, Lucy was inspired – and let Sierra in on a secret: “You’re going to become a mermaid.”

Sierra’s eyes lit up with excitement and curiosity as her mum explained that her upcoming appointments would be essential to undergo the transformation.

“Sierra literally has no clue and genuinely thinks she’s becoming a mermaid. This puts a big smile on my face and is keeping me going too,” Lucy added.

“We don’t use the word ‘medicine’; she relates this to the ‘gross’ sedation medicine which she spits out and refuses.”

Since Sierra’s diagnosis, the local communities have rallied around the family, including a mermaid street party fundraiser on 3 June and a day of pampering from KA Brows (strictly for mermaids only!) whilst the Kilgannon family have added a ‘Middleton Mermaid’ fundraiser tab to their menus at Ian’s Donatello’s and Mrs K’s Kaff.

Upcoming fundraisers include an upcoming sponsored walk on Sunday 18 June at Bowlee Pavillion, a coast-to-coast hike on 21 June, family fun days at the Ponderosa on 8 July, the New Inn on 15 July and a sponsored haircut by Nina Keys on 22 July.

“The community fundraising has been phenomenal and so heart-warming to see how many care so much and want to support us and give Sierra so many fulfilling good days,” Lucy said.

Sierra still requires around another 20 weeks of chemotherapy, plus radiotherapy: rebranded as going for ‘mermaid superpowers’ – and a 7.5-hour operation to remove the tumour and her kidney was doctors ‘inserting her mermaid tail’.

Lucy explained further: “When they draw blood from her lines, they are checking the red colouring of her tail inside her.

“Sierra happily shows off her mermaid scar where doctors have put in her tail. If she mentions pictures of her tail; she’s referring to scans, and when she had the naso-gastro tube, they were watering her tail as it should be in the ocean.

“However, her superpowers do come out [Lucy sprinkles glitter in the toilet] and this is Sierra’s reminder that her superpowers are working but naturally come out, hence her needing to go for more each week.

“And lastly, her hair. Her old hair has come out, ready for new mermaid hair to start growing. This won’t happen during treatment, but we also have temporary mermaid wigs until hers begins to grow.

“As more treatments happen, I’m making up mermaid related reasons, but honestly, it’s beautiful to see her excitement and proudness of becoming a mermaid. I hope everyone enjoys going along with it for her.

“As time goes by, things will change, but we’ll face that when it comes.”

After undergoing surgery, the family received the news that Sierra had stage 3 cancer, due to it spreading to Sierra’s renal vein and lymph nodes, which were also removed during the operation.

In total, Sierra will have undergone 27 weeks of chemotherapy and three intense weeks of daily radiotherapy, which will involve sedation each day to keep her still.

“There was no kidney left to save, due to the tumour size and growth,” Lucy said. “We had a fantastic team of surgeons, doctors and nurses. Sierra has been super brave.”

Whilst optimistic on the surface and around her daughters, Lucy admits her Sierra’s diagnosis has been difficult: “Inside I’m worried and scared, as any human would be.

“I have cried, and do cry, but around the girls, I am ‘mer-mazing’, overly happy and super strong with the biggest smile for Sierra, Bella and our amazing friends, family and community who are all behind us. I’m broken inside but what’s in front of me matters more. If Sierra sees me cry, she will worry and cry because I am.

“My imagination is constantly working to make this exciting, because there’s no other way. This way suits us; it suits Sierra. I’ve always believed in a positive mental attitude; worrying won’t get us anywhere.

“I’d do anything to take this cancer away from her, and any bad things both my girls have had, or will have, in their lives. I can’t, but I can show them how to keep smiling, be positive, brave and strong, always fight, laugh and have fun.

“I can let them know and show them I will always be right with them, whatever it takes, through everything.”

Lucy added: “I completely understand seeing little Sierra’s smile and knowing what’s taking over inside her is emotional and heart-breaking, but I’d like everyone to be smiling with excitement around Sierra, should you come face to face with my little mermaid.”

She concluded: “My mermaid in the making tale has truly helped us get this far, and I know it will help us as Sierra continues her journey. I also hope it inspires and helps other future mermaids and superheroes get through a scary time.

“I’ve been doing my best to give others smiles and living each day to the fullest, and I hope this encourages others to go out and have fun, laugh lots and smile always.

Donations to help the family whilst Sierra undergoes her treatment can be made via GoFundMe:

• www.gofundme.com/f/supportsisi