Eighteen months ago we interviewed Laura Hymas for the Daily Mirror and her story later appeared in Bella. 
Then the situation looked very bleak for Laura, 25, and mum to a toddler, who was told by doctors in the UK that she had an inoperable brain tumour and there was nothing more they could do.
Fortunately Laura and partner Ben did not take that answer and decided not to give up. After an internet search they found hope in the form of a clinic in America.
The treatment was ground-breaking and at the same time controversial, and incredibly the couple faced criticism from some for putting their faith in it.
It was also expensive – to pay for it the family had to raise £90,000 a year. However, undaunted, they launched a massive Facebook and Twitter campaign. Called Hope for Laura, it caught the eye of a number of celebrities who retweeted it. Every pound donated helped and last summer the family flew to the Burzynski Clinic in Houston Texas. 
Almost immediately the treatment began to work and now a year later comes the astonishing news that the tumour has disappeared.
Writing on the family’s blog, Ben says: “These days, life is much more hopeful and slightly less stressful. There was a time in our lives when we thought Laura would never get to hear our son learn to say “”I love you”, ride a bike, swim, go on holidays.
“We still take every day as it comes and pray things continue on this path. Laura, Jacob and I want to say a special thanks to everyone who donated and helped us make our miracle happen.”
We believe it goes to show there is always hope and that whatever you are facing in life, there is a way forward. We have to hand it to Ben and Laura – it has taken guts, much fund-raising and heartache to get this far – but we are absolutely thrilled as they are…
We believe their story will also give hope to anyone else who has had to face the devastating news they once had to face.
Read more about the treatment and follow Laura’s progress on their blog: HopeforLauraFund
