Harper Murray, a nine-year-old from Aigburth, has returned to the stage after undergoing surgery to remove a brain tumour 'bigger than a tennis ball'. The tumour caused double vision in both her eyes and forced her to temporarily give up dancing.
Diagnosis and surgery
Harper's mum Nicola, 32, said her daughter started having vision problems last year when her eyes began 'crossing over'. An optician's test revealed severe swelling of the optic discs in both eyes.
Nicola said: "Finally then we did get a CT scan and there it was, the brain tumour was bigger than a tennis ball."
Harper was sent urgently to Alder Hey A&E department on February 16 2025, where she was diagnosed with a posterior fossa brain tumour (at the base of the skull near the brain stem) and hydrocephalus, a build-up of fluid in the brain.
Relearning to walk
Harper had spent months perfecting a solo for a dance competition at St George's Hall that month. However, she received the shock diagnosis just two days before she was due to perform, and had to undergo a 10-hour craniotomy – the first of three major operations.
Determined to perform again, Harper began one-to-one dance rehabilitation coaching with Liverpool Theatre School teacher Cally Reeve before returning to her usual dance classes a few weeks later.
Nicola said: "Harper never really complained or told us how bad the double vision was because she thought she'd have to give up dancing. The lasting effects of the tumour and the surgery mean she's lost co-ordination in the left side of her body, and she's had to learn how to sit up, stand up and walk again."
She added: "I honestly think Harper's passion for dance has helped her recovery. Doctors have said years of dance training have created muscle memory that's helped preserve her ability to dance. She's over the moon to be back at her dance classes and we're hugely grateful to everyone who has supported her recovery journey so far."
Return to the stage
Just a few months after her third operation, Harper returned to the stage at The Floral Pavilion to perform at Liverpool Theatre School's end-of-year show. While she can dance again, she still struggles with walking in a straight line due to optic nerve damage and has no peripheral vision.
Following her ordeal, Harper's family and friends started fundraising for private neurological rehabilitation, as she currently faced a 12-month wait for occupational therapy.
In support of the fundraiser, Liverpool Theatre School organised 'Harper's Day of Dance' on August 3. The charity event invited young dancers to take part in a full day of classes in jazz technique, lyrical, contemporary and commercial dance. The event raised £1,600, and was the last donation needed to pay the cost of Harper's £10,000 specialist treatment.
Liverpool Theatre School principal Maxine Ellis said: "Harper is determined to pursue her dance ambitions even after everything she's been through, and we wanted to organise a special day for the city's dance community to show their support. Watching Harper return to the stage during our summer showcase with the dance routine she'd perfected before her diagnosis was incredibly emotional for everyone. Performing the solo gave her a real confidence boost. We didn't know whether she would manage it until the night before, but when she got up on stage there wasn't a dry eye in the house. The whole show was dedicated to Harper, which made her performance even more poignant. We're all so proud of her."
