News

6-Year-Old Girl Battling Cancer Sings 'Fight Song' at Wedding & Goes Viral

By Erin Coates June 5, 2018 at 11:25am

Children who battle cancer are some of the bravest people in this world, and Anya Ottley is no exception.

Last November, the 6-year-old’s father, Andy, noticed a lump on Anya’s stomach and took her to the hospital.

The doctors and blood tests confirmed that the lump was a cancerous tumor in her stomach.

Anya was taken to Manchester Children’s Hospital in England and diagnosed with Wilms’ tumor, a rare type of kidney cancer, on Nov. 17, 2017.

Initial surgery shrunk the large tumor to half its size and removed her left kidney, but it still was not enough.

Since Jan. 27, 2018, Anya has undergone intensive chemotherapy every Monday to try and get rid of the tumor.

“I’m so glad we caught it when we did otherwise we might be telling a very different story right now, I dare not think about it really,” Kathryn Ottley, Anya’s mother, told Metro.

“She knew something was wrong and she did ask me if she was going to die, which was heartbreaking, but I told her she wouldn’t and she’s been so incredibly brave and strong.”

Anya chooses not to wear the wig given to her by the Little Princess Trust because she does not want to hide her cancer.

This little girl showed her courageous spirit in a video that was taken of her singing “Fight Song” by Rachel Platten at a wedding.

Her performance showed just how serious she is to fight the battle of cancer and win.

[rumble]https://rumble.com/embed/u77uw.v2vwj7/[/rumble]

“Her performance at the wedding brought a tear to my eye and to several others in the room,” Kathryn said. “It was fantastic to watch her and it made me so proud.”

Anya is due to finish treatment on July 9. Stay strong Anya and we hope you continue to sing your fight song as you finish this battle.

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Erin Coates

Contributor, News

SummaryMore Biographical InformationRecent PostsContact

Erin Coates was an editor for The Western Journal for over two years before becoming a news writer. A University of Oregon graduate, Erin has conducted research in data journalism and contributed to various publications as a writer and editor.

Erin Coates was an editor for The Western Journal for over two years before becoming a news writer. She grew up in San Diego, California, proceeding to attend the University of Oregon and graduate with honors holding a degree in journalism. During her time in Oregon, Erin was an associate editor for Ethos Magazine and a freelance writer for Eugene Magazine. She has conducted research in data journalism, which has been published in the book “Data Journalism: Past, Present and Future.” Erin is an avid runner with a heart for encouraging young girls and has served as a coach for the organization Girls on the Run. As a writer and editor, Erin strives to promote social dialogue and tell the story of those around her.

Birthplace

Tucson, Arizona

Nationality

American

Honors/Awards

Graduated with Honors

Education

Bachelor of Arts in Journalism, University of Oregon

Books Written

Contributor for Data Journalism: Past, Present and Future

Location

Prescott, Arizona