The tragic story of Freya Bevan, who died at just nine years old, highlights the devastating impact of brain tumours on families. Freya’s mother, Katherine Bevan, 52, from Neath, South Wales, cradled her daughter as she took her last breath in December 2021. What began as a suspected dairy intolerance led to a diagnosis that would change their lives forever.
Freya’s health issues started when she was only 20 months old, with frequent vomiting that her family initially attributed to a milk allergy. Despite multiple visits to the doctor, it took months of testing and hospital stays to uncover the truth. In 2014, a diagnosis revealed that the then 22-month-old Freya had a stage 4 PNET brain tumour, which required immediate surgical intervention.
“I remember that day so clearly,” Katherine recalled. “Freya was sitting on my lap, and the doctor told me she had a brain tumour. I thought, ‘How can this be happening?’”
According to the Brain Tumour Charity, around 420 children in the UK are diagnosed with brain tumours each year. Symptoms can vary, including headaches, nausea, and changes in behaviour. In Freya’s case, although surgeons successfully removed part of the tumour, they could not eliminate it entirely due to its location. Following surgery, Freya underwent chemotherapy and later travelled to Oklahoma for proton beam therapy, raising over £100,000 for the treatment.
Katherine described Freya as a resilient child who “was never without a smile,” despite the grueling treatments. After her therapy, Freya seemed to recover, returning to her playful self. She enjoyed school, loved learning TikTok dances, and thrived in her daily life.
However, in October 2020, a routine scan revealed that her tumour had returned, having doubled in size. Freya underwent another nine-hour surgery. Despite initial hopes, the tumour reappeared after radiation treatment.
“I refused to give up,” Katherine said. “After lots of research, I found tablets from Germany and a personalised vaccine from Mexico to target her tumour. Freya took everything without complaint. I just couldn’t give up on trying to save her. She had her whole life ahead of her.”
Unfortunately, as Freya’s condition deteriorated, Katherine faced the heartbreaking reality of losing her daughter.
“Everything became a blur. I held her in my arms as she took her last breath. I would have died for her there and then, but I couldn’t,” Katherine expressed.
The statistics surrounding brain tumours are sobering. More than 12,000 individuals in the UK are diagnosed with a primary brain tumour annually, and approximately half of these cases are cancerous. The disease represents the most deadly cancer in children and young adults under 40, according to the NHS.
Katherine now channels her grief into helping others as a qualified bereavement counsellor. In 2022, she founded Freya’s Freedom of Mind Counselling Services, aiming to support those experiencing similar loss.
“Losing a child can be the loneliest place in the world. It’s all-consuming,” Katherine explained. “I want to help other people who are grieving to feel less alone. Doing this work keeps Freya’s memory alive.”
She reflects on the changes in her social circle following Freya’s death, noting that often, those who one expects to support may not be able to. Katherine has committed to being a source of comfort to others, ensuring that Freya’s legacy continues through her work.
“I know my beautiful daughter didn’t die in vain,” she added. “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.”
Freya’s story serves as a poignant reminder of the urgency for awareness and research into childhood brain tumours, as families continue to grapple with the harsh realities of this disease.
