A girl with cancer who was told by the NHS that UK medicine could not cure her has seen her tumour shrink following pioneering treatment in America.

Readers were inspired to donate �100,000 to help Maya Perrin-Skippen, 11, undergo specialist treatment in a Texan children’s hospital after a three-month Recorder campaign three years ago.

Now Maya and her family, from Globe Road, Romford, are celebrating after being told her last scan showed the brain tumour had been zapped by 20 per cent.

Maya’s father Steven Skippen, 32, said: “We were told that the tumour could not be treated here and that the NHS would only provide palliative care, so we had to take matters into our own hands to raise money and get her treatment in the US.

“Without the kindness and generousity of many, many people it’s likely that Maya would not be here today.”

Diagnosed

He added: “When we were told about the scan I expected to be ecstatic, but I was more relieved.”

Maya, due to start at Emerson Park Secondary, Wych Elm Road, Hornchurch, next month, was first diagnosed with apendymoma in 2005.

Maya, who receives oral medication, has been on a break until she returns to Houston for tests.