Brave Kilisha's catwalk dream is to come true

Nine-year-old brain tumour survivor Kilisha Glennon from Edenderry is to have a dream come true this week with a day spent being treated like a princess and ending with a walk down a catwalk. Kilisha was diagnosed with a brain tumour on her seventh birthday - March 8, 2010. Last Thursday she returned to Crumlin Children's Hospital for an MRI scan that will confirm whether or not the tumour is finally gone. This Thursday thanks to charity Share a Dream she's in for a day of pampering followed by a turn on the catwalk modelling a dress selected specially for her. Dad Austin told the Offaly Independent it's been a difficult time for both himself and his wife Siobhan, as well as Kilisha's siblings Clodagh (10), Michael Sean (7), Emma (5), Aoife (2) and Coleisia (18 months). The nightmare began when Kilisha began to get physically get sick at Christmas 2009. It came to a head on her birthday in March however, when it was so bad she had to be taken from school and brought straight to Mullingar hospital for tests on the advice of the family doctor. Austin said he can't explain how it felt being told his daughter had a brain tumour the following day, but shock was the main feeling. On March 12, 2010, Kilisha was successfully operated on, but when the ventricles in her brain began to fill with blood in the operation recovery room she had to be put in an induced coma for almost three weeks. Since then Kilisha has spent time in Temple Street Children's Hospital, St Luke's Hospital and the National Rehabilitation Hospital in Dun Laoghaire learning to walk and talk again. Kilisha has been left with the need to use a walker and with impaired vision and palsy on the right side of her face. Austin said his daughter is headstrong however, and will keep going until she gets her smile back. She has already undergone one operation looking to replace just that.. Thursday will no doubt put a smile in Kilisha's heart if not on her face. On the day she and her family will travel to Athlone by special Garda escort and stay at the Sheraton Hotel. Kilisha, along with big sister Clodagh and mother Siobhan, will be pampered for the day getting their hair, nails and make-up done. Kilisha will then be fitted for a dress and shoes, before having dinner and travelling in a Rolls Royce to a "Cause for Fashion" show in the Sheraton Hotel. To top off her night, Kilisha will walk down the catwalk modelling her outfit in front of hundreds of guests. Austin said Kilisha fractured her ankle at the start of the month, but is determined not to let that get in the way. "She's able to hobble around on the cast," he said, "so she's not going to let that spoil it for her." The day will be particularly suitable for his litte girl, he said, as "her appearance is everything to her". "Cause for Fashion" takes place on Thursday, March 29 in the Sheraton Athlone in aid of Share a Dream Foundation and Athlone-based service for people with intellectual disabilities, St Hilda's. Organisers are promising a night not to be missed hosted by celebrity hairdresser and TV presenter James Brown. There will also be a celebrity appearance on the night by Jamie Laing from "Made in Chelsea". Fashions on the night will be showcased from local boutiques and shops, with styling by Holman Lee Agency. MC for the night will be DJ Johnny Hammond. Tickets are priced €20 if pre-purchased and €25 on the door. The ticket price includes champagne and canapes at 7.30pm before the fashion show begins as well as a goodie bag and entry to Karma night club for the fashion show after party. All proceeds from the event will go to the Share a Dream Foundation and St Hilda's. Tickets are available to buy from the Sheraton Hotel or Athlone Towncentre information desk.