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Family desperate to save dream Disney trip for girl left blind by brain tumour after insurance nightmare

Sienna, 6, went to the opticians for a routine eye test but doctors later found she had a brain tumour - the girl's dream holiday has now been put at risk after her insurance was made void

[Sienna smiling in her wheelchair]

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Sienna smiling in her wheelchair(Image: WALES NEWS SERVICE)

The family of a six-year-old girl fighting a brain tumour that left her blind said they are desperate to save a dream trip for the little girl which is at threat after insurance costs spiralled.

Sienna life changed after a routine eye exam, on February 9, caught swelling on the little girl's optic nerve. After a brain scan, doctors confirmed Sienna had a tumour which could not be removed through surgery. The child had started an 18-month course of chemotherapy to try and fight the tumour but it led to Sienna losing her vision.

This diagnosis came weeks after Sienna and her family received tickets to Walt Disney World, in Florida, but their trip was put at risk after the girl's travel insurance was void. The family were told the cost would increase by 5,000 for Sienna due to her diagnosis.

[Image of Sienna]

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Sienna's family is battling to save her dream trip to Disney World(Image: WALES NEWS SERVICE)

Sienna's mum Emma Louise Lloyd, 37, said: "I just couldn't believe it, she'd been so excited and I just couldn't do it to her." The family, from Aberdare, Wales, had a four-week trip to Florida booked for October and they were originally quoted 232 to cover travel insurance for the family-of-five.

Following Sienna's diagnosis, the insurance for the girl alone shot up to a staggering 5,083 for the holiday. The mum recalled the moment Sienna, her sister and six cousins found out about the holiday on Christmas Day, according to the BBC.

Emma said: "It was the last surprise, we had all the children, all of her cousins sat here... it was just magical, they were all screaming they were. They were just all bouncing around so happy."

[Noah's Ark Children's Hospital in Cardiff]

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Sienna was taken to Noah's Ark Children's Hospital in Cardiff(Image: Google Maps)

Five weeks after that special moment, an optician noticed swelling behind the six-year-old's eyes during the routine test. A brain scan at Prince Charles Hospital revealed Sienna had a brain tumour and she was rushed to Noah's Ark Children's Hospital, in Cardiff, for treatment.

The family revealed the only symptom Sienna experienced was that her eyesight was slowly starting to go. Sienna was diagnosed with grade 1 glioma - a low grade type of brain tumour made up from supportive tissue of the brain. This glioma led to Sienna's vision loss.

Sienna's auntie Jessica Gill said GreatCover insurance told the family the cover was void due to the six-year-old's diagnosis. Jessica said the family found a specialist policy that would cover Sienna for this trip but the cost made the holiday too expensive.

The family has set up a fundraiser to help cover the costs and it has raised over 6,000. The family said extra money will be donated to theNoah's Ark Children's Hospital and Ronald McDonald House - a charity which gives the families of children being treated the hospital free accommodation.

The Mirror has reached out to GreatCover insurance for comment.

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