Had to share this. Lovely story

'My Mommy is in heaven with Diana': The heartbreaking story behind the little girl who dreamed of meeting a princess... and melted Kate's heart

By Tamara Abraham

Last updated at 2:06 AM on 9th July 2011

With stage four cancer, little Diamond Marshall may not live to see her dream of meeting Sleeping Beauty's Princess Aurora at Disneyland.
But the six-year-old came pretty close yesterday when she was invited to present a bouquet of flowers to the Duchess of Cambridge as she arrived in Calgary, Canada.
Diamond was so thrilled by the opportunity, that instead of passing across the bouquet, she flung herself forward for a hug, much to Catherine's delight.

Dream come true: Six-year-old Diamond Marshall, who was chosen to present a bouquet of flowers to the Duchess of Cambridge, was so thrilled, she leaned in for a hug, much to Catherine's delight

Token: Diamond, pictured before her diagnosis, gave the Catherine a friendship bracelet

As well as the colourful posy, Diamond also presented a heart-shaped trinket box, containing a friendship bracelet she had made for the Duchess herself.
It was a rare moment of joy for the youngster, who has been suffering from undifferentiated sarcoma, a rare childhood cancer that affects the body's soft tissues.

 

Since her diagnosis in February, she has been through surgery and spent weeks in and out of hospital, and has lost her hair due to chemotherapy treatment for the tumour on her abdomen.
Her illness is fresh hardship for the family following the loss of her mother, Memory Marshall, to a different cancer four years ago, at the age of just 32.

Emotional boost: Diamond, who is battling a rare cancer, has always dreamed of meeting a princess

Battle: It was a moment of pure joy for the youngster, who is undergoing chemotherapy for a rare cancer

Today, Diamond's stepmother, Danielle Marshall, 32, told MailOnline how she and her husband Lyall, 37, made the kindergartener's dream a reality.
Well aware of his daughter's love for all things princess-related, Mr Marshall had mused: 'Maybe she should meet Princess Kate... She will be coming to Calgary, after all.'
The response was overwhelming enthusiasm from Diamond, who wrote a touching letter to the Duchess expressing her desire.
It read: 'Dear Princess Kate. My name is Diamond Ann. I am six. I was named after Princess Diana. My Mommy Memory is in heaven with her.

Family support network: Diamond with her father, Lyall, stepmother Danielle and little sister Freya, 23 months

Playing princess: Diamond, pictured before (left) and after she lost her hair, has just finished Kindergarten

'I have cancer. I spend a lot of time at the hospital. I watched you get married from my bed there. You looked pretty.

Fresh hardship: Diamond's mother, Memory, died from cancer at the age of just 32, four years ago

'I like playing Princess dress up. My favourite princess is Aurora. Who is yours. I would really like to meet you. Do you wait [sic] to meet me too? '
A few days later, Mrs Marshall called the Children's Wish Foundation of Canada to see if there was anything they could do.
'I called them and said, this is going to sound crazy,' she revealed. Mr Marshall also sent the organisation a letter of his own.
He wrote: 'We realize she may not have the chance to go to Disneyland where she wants to lunch with Princess Aurora of the fabled story Sleeping Beauty.
'Should the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge just happen to swing by for a little visit, it would go a long way for helping her spirits, her surrounding family and friends.
She is in awe of Princess Kate's fairytale-like story.'
At the beginning of June the family learned that Diamond had been chosen to present the Duchess's bouquet - though they were all required to keep the news a secret - even Diamond.

'I'm not sure she managed to keep it a secret from her friends,' admitted Mrs Marshall, who is mother to Diamond's little sister, Freya, 23 months.
After her meeting with the Royal couple, Diamond said: 'She told me she liked the flowers a lot.
'She was as fancy as she looks on the TV.'

UNDIFFERENTIATED SARCOMA

 Undifferentiated sarcoma is a very rare childhood cancer that affects the body's soft connective tissues.
Symptoms include pain or swelling in the affected area. If the tumour is particularly large, it can press on other organs, affecting their performance.
According to Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, which specialises in treating children with high-risk cancers, no single treatment method appears to be successful alone.
The usual course of action includes surgical removal of the tumour, chemotherapy and sometimes radiation.
A treatment plan will be based on which part of the body is affected, whether the tumour has spread, and how much of it could be removed in surgery.

Source: cincinnatichildrens.org

Mrs Marshall, who stood close to the little girl throughout the meeting, told how the Duchess complimented Diamond's dress.
She said Catherine was 'so lovely and so gracious. For a little girl who has dreamed of meeting a princess it was a dream come true.'
Mr Marshall added: 'This is so great for her health - it's such a boost for her emotionally, and for her strength.'
Though Diamond is currently in and out of hospital for chemotherapy sessions, Mrs Marshall says that she is responding well to treatment, and that her tumour is shrinking. She is scheduled for further surgery in mid-August.

Diamond's dream was made possible thanks to the Children's Wish Foundation of Canada.

This year, the Foundation expects to grant 1,000 new wishes and grants nearly three wishes every day.

Each wish is an individual adventure, carefully structured to meet the needs of a particular child and family. For more information visit www.childrenswish.ca