A mother from Neath, South Wales, reflects on the tragic loss of her daughter, Freya Bevan, who passed away at the age of nine after a long battle with brain cancer. What began as a suspected dairy intolerance turned out to be a devastating diagnosis that changed their lives forever.
Freya’s health issues started when she was just 20 months old, with frequent vomiting that her mother, Katherine Bevan, initially attributed to a milk allergy. After numerous consultations and tests, doctors finally diagnosed Freya with a stage 4 PNET brain tumour in 2014, measuring the size of a golf ball. This marked the beginning of a relentless fight for survival that would span several years and multiple recurrences of the cancer.
The confirmation of the brain tumour was a devastating blow. “I remember that day so clearly,” Katherine recalls. “Freya was sitting on my lap when the doctor told me she had a brain tumour. I thought, ‘How can this be happening?’”
Following the diagnosis, Freya underwent urgent surgery to remove part of the tumour. Unfortunately, due to its precarious location, complete removal was not possible. This led to a series of treatments, including chemotherapy and proton beam therapy, which Katherine financed by raising over £100,000 for Freya to receive treatment in Oklahoma, United States.
Despite the harshness of the treatments, Freya displayed remarkable resilience. “In spite of her suffering, Freya was never without a smile,” Katherine says. “After the proton beam therapy, the cancer seemed to have all but disappeared.”
Freya enjoyed a period of remission, relishing in school, holidays, and time spent with family. Tragically, in October 2020, routine scans revealed that the tumour had returned, doubling in size. This led to further surgery, but the cancer persisted, re-emerging a third time when doctors determined that no additional surgery was an option.
“After lots of research, I found tablets from Germany and a personalised vaccine from Mexico to target her tumour,” Katherine explains. “Freya took everything without complaint. I just couldn’t give up on trying to save her.”
Despite Katherine’s unwavering dedication, Freya’s condition deteriorated. “All I could do was hold her in my arms as she took her last breath. I would have died for her there and then, but I couldn’t.” Freya passed away in December 2021, leaving a profound void in her family’s life.
According to the Brain Tumour Charity, around 12,000 people in the UK are diagnosed with a primary brain tumour each year, with approximately half being cancerous. The prognosis for those with malignant tumours remains grim, with an average life expectancy reduction of 27 years.
In the wake of her daughter’s passing, Katherine has channeled her grief into helping others. In 2022, she qualified as a bereavement counsellor. “My work has been borne out of unimaginable pain, but I know Freya is with me,” she states. Now, as the founder of Freya’s Freedom of Mind Counselling Services, Katherine aims to support those in similar situations, ensuring that no parent feels alone in their grief.
“Losing a child can be the loneliest place in the world,” Katherine reflects. “I want to help other people who are grieving to feel less alone. I know that my address book certainly changed when Freya died. Sometimes the people you think will show up simply don’t or can’t.”
Katherine remains committed to keeping Freya’s memory alive through her work. “I know by doing it, my beautiful daughter didn’t die in vain. Her memory will always be alive within me, and I know one day I will see her beautiful face again. It gives me the strength to go on.”
