Little Denvah is fighting cancer in both eyes and here's how you can help her get the USA treatment she needs
‘As much as all of this has taken a physical toll on her, she has never let it get her down’
Meet Denvah Finlay, the little Wearside girl who has been diagnosed with cancer in both eyes at just one year old.
The ever-smiling youngster is only of only 40 children to be diagnosed with Bilateral Retinoblastoma, a rare and aggressive form of eye cancer. Denvah is blind in her right eye and there are fears she may have to have the eyeball removed.
But there is hope. Two huge fundraising missions to amass £25,000 are under way to help the now 18-month-old get the help she needs in the USA.
The Help Save Denvah’s Eye campaign has been launched by her mum Gemma, 43, and dad Paul, 45, and you can find out more about it here.
In a separate boost, Sunderland woman Maureen Thompson has chosen Denvah as one of the causes she will be supporting in 2026.
Denvah was diagnosed with Bilateral Retinoblastoma 2 weeks after her first birthday. Mum Gemma, 43, who is a self employed health and wellness specialist, remembered the first time she was told that her daughter had cancer.
“It felt like all my blood just left my body. I texted my husband Paul who was working, to come home as soon as possible.”
Consultants told Gemma that Denvah had so many tumours in her right eye that they did not know where one stops and another one starts.
Denvah was seen first at the Eye Infirmary in Sunderland and then at the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle where she had an MRI scan, lumbar puncture and bone marrow biopsy.
She began chemotherapy and her left eye has responded well. Gemma explained: “Now the systemic chemotherapy has finished for Denvah, the plan is to carry on with laser therapy to her left eye as she still has 2 active tumours in that eye. The treatment for the left eye is approximately 18 to 24 months.
“For her right eye, the plan is not as straightforward as the tumours are very unpredictable. She has an EUA (examination under anaesthetic) every 3-4 weeks and the consultants and specialists make plans from there.
“They plan on injecting her right eye with chemotherapy to help keep the tumours from growing until we can get her to the USA, they still might need to remove her eyeball if it grows before then.
“The USA visit will be as soon as possible and it will be 4 visits, 4 weeks apart. At the end of the 12 weeks we will know if they have managed to save her eyeball.”
Despite everything she has gone through, Denvah remains a whirlwind of fun and energy. Gemma added: “She is the most mischievous little girl! You wouldn’t think to look at her that she has cancer or is blind in one eye.
“As much as all of this has taken a physical toll on her, she has never let it get her down.”
Maureen explained why she chose Denvah as one of her 2026 causes. “When I heard about Denvah having it in both eyes I was wanting to do all I could to make life that bit easier by taking some of the financial strain off the family.
“As a parent, I cannot even begin to imagine what this family are going through and I want to do something to help.”
HOW YOU CAN SUPPORT DENVAH.
Back the ‘Help save Denvah's eye!’ Go Fund Me campaign by donating to bit.ly/4dxe9Qa
Support Maureen Thompson’s fundraising. It is called the Allan Thompson Fundraising Event and will be held at The Alexandra Steakhouse in Sunderland on Saturday, November 14. Before then, Maureen is also holding raffles and appealing for cash donations. Find out more at https://www.facebook.com/events/the-alexandra-steakhouse/allan-thompson-fundraising-event/999650182913143/