UK Girl With Cancer Skates In Edmond Ice Skating Event

A little girl has traveled from the United Kingdom to Oklahoma to fight brain cancer. However, during her time here, she’s also made a dream come true. She participated in her first ice skating event.

It’s taken her six weeks to get here and 9-year-old Annabelle Higgins says she’s ready. Her coach Angie Conley agrees.

“Annabelle just stands out,” Conley said.

Conley coached Annabelle for free after finding out she’s also fighting for her life.

“I can't imagine what she's been through but she's so cavalier about it. It's like she's stubbed her toe, and she's just so open and honest. She just grabbed my heart,” she said.

Annabelle has been skating off and on since she was 4 years old.

Two years later, she was diagnosed with a brain tumor. Doctors removed most of it but earlier this year, they discovered it was growing; some of it in her brain stem, meaning another surgery wouldn’t get it all.

“I’ve had two operations in my life and I didn't get put off,” Annabelle said.

She never imagined her dream would come true in Oklahoma. She received brain cancer treatment at ProCure Proton Therapy Center in Oklahoma City. Her parents took her to an ice skating rink near the treatment center to help boost her spirits. She met Conley and soon after began to train for her first exhibition in the Arctic Edge Open.

“She was very excited. She woke very early this morning and said I’m ready for it,” said Lana Higgins, Annabelle’s mother.

On Sunday, she went out on the ice in front of a group of supporters, skating to the song “When You Believe,” which the rink arranged for her to record herself singing.

“It was a proud moment, just as a mom, you know see your child moving, enjoying, singing so yes it's wonderful,” Lana Higgins said.

“She did amazing,” Conley said. “She skated back in England with no private lessons whatsoever and in three short weeks, she's put that program together, sang her song. She's just an amazing girl.”

When asked how she felt out there?

“Scared to start with, then I completely forgot everything else that was there and I just skated,” Annabelle said.

She said she’s ready to do it again and won’t let her condition stop her.

“Skating is too good to give up, skating's worth it,” she said.

Annabelle is done with her treatments here in Oklahoma and will return to England on Friday.

“I love home, but I’m going to miss everyone here,” she said. “I’m going to be sad.”

Annabelle and her family will find out if the proton treatment worked in a few months when she undergoes another MRI scan.