'Being a disabled mum is hard but I'm doing it for her - and that's the best reason to keep going'

WOMAN TOLD SHE COULDN'T HAVE BABY AFTER CANCER DIAGNOSIS

- By SAM VOLPE Health reporter

A BLYTH mum who survived cancer as a teenager said that before having her daughter she had "given up hope of ever feeling truly happy".

But for Leah Cullen, 25, the birth of little Aria a year ago has transformed her life.

Leah had cancer in her spine - two tumours were discovered after she injured herself on a slide. She was just 13 at the time. Despite successful treatment, she has struggled with chronic pain for many years since then.

Another side effect of her cancer treatment could have been that, because of radiotherapy, she might have been left infertile. However, to Leah’s delight, this proved not to be the case.