A COURAGEOUS 22-month-old girl faces nine months of intensive chemotherapy as oncology surgeons fight to save her life.

Krystal Bentley was diagnosed with alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma above her lip when she was just 11 months old.

After undergoing surgery at Alder Hey Hospital in Liverpool yesterday, Tuesday, Krystal will then receive nine months of further treatment.

Her mum Rebecca Hartley, aged 25, from Palacefields, Runcorn, said: “I never thought in a million years that my baby would ever get cancer.

“She had eight weeks of painful radiotherapy to her face and neck.

“She lost her curls within two weeks of starting treatment but never lost her smile.”

Rebecca has launched an appeal to take Krystal to Disneyland and help towards petrol expenses to and from the hospital.

She has three young sons, Troy, aged six, Kaylib, aged five, and Zachary, aged three.

Rebecca said: “It has been nearly a year since she was diagnosed and it has been tough on us all.

“People have asked how they can help Krystal.

“The money raised will help us pay for a trip and insurance to take her to Disneyland next year. The trip will cost around £2,000. That’s my big goal.

“She’s on chemo until the end of October if all goes well, but has a 40 per cent chance of relapse.

“My worst fear is that it will regrow as it was so aggressive and we won’t be able to do anything to stop it.

“She needs scans and MRIs every two to three months.”

She said Krystal’s strength and determination has helped her to cope.

Rebecca added: “She really is so brave for such a young girl.

“She’s very feisty and is the boss in our house.

“To quote from Shakespeare ‘though she be but little, she is fierce’.

“She’s a mummy’s girl and will only trust me to change her line dressing and give her medicines through her stomach tube.

“She lets the nurses do what they have to do when taking blood from her central line but will close her eyes so she can’t see them and closes her eyes when she’s having scans just to get them over with.

“No-one should have to go through something so painful, especially children.

“But childhood cancer happens every day and it needs more awareness.

“Be grateful for what you have and think about those fighting.

“Thank you from the bottom of my heart to everyone who has helped us.”

To support Krystal’s appeal visit gofundme.com/Krystalscause.