Three-year-old Harper rings end of treatment bell after brain cancer battle
This is the moment that Harper and her family have been waiting for. The three-year-old from Cannock rang the end of treatment bell after many months of gruelling chemotherapy treatment.
The special moment marks the end of her treatment for medulloblastoma, a fast-growing cancerous brain tumour.
Her dad, George Gibson, shared: “When Harper rang that bell, it was not just the end of treatment. It was the closing of a chapter that tested us in every possible way. It was relief, pride, gratitude, and a moment that belongs just as much to the people who got her there as it does to us.”
Harper was rushed to Birmingham Children’s Hospital in August 2025 following an eye test. Shortly after, her parents received the devastating news that she had a brain tumour.
After arriving at the hospital, Consultant Paediatric Neurosurgeon Mr William Lo performed an emergency seven-hour operation to save her life and remove the tumour.
“The news was crushing, but we were so thankful to have Mr Lo there to guide us. He walked into our lives at the exact moment when we needed him,” George shared.
Following surgery, Harper underwent intensive chemotherapy at the hospital's specialist cancer centre.
After eight months living in hospital, she has now finished her treatment and is celebrating with her friends and family after ringing the symbolic end of treatment bell.
Her Mum, Laura Gibson, shared: “We will never forget the love, care and compassion shown to Harper, but also to us as parents. In the moments where we were at our lowest, they lifted us. They didn’t just look after our daughter, they looked after our whole family.”
George is currently training to complete a staggering 268-mile run for Birmingham Children’s Hospital charity in June. He will be running The Montane Spine Race, which is widely regarded as one of the toughest endurance races in the world.
“Every mile will be for Harper and every step will be a thank-you to everyone at the hospital,” George explained.
“There were days where Harper couldn’t eat, days where she couldn’t walk, days no child should ever have to face. But every single time, there was someone there, someone fighting her corner. Someone reminding us we weren’t alone.
“There aren’t really words strong enough to describe what the consultants, doctors, nurses and support staff have done for us. They were the calm in the chaos. The people who sat with us on the hardest nights and somehow made the unbearable feel manageable.
“They didn’t just treat Harper, they carried us as a family. We’ll forever be thankful.”