Brave Shropshire five-year-old celebrates birthday for the first time

Kiah Powell, of Sutton Maddock, near Shifnal, turned five yesterday and celebrated with friends, family and a number of surprise arrivals.

After spending half of his life in and out of hospital, his parents Paula and Adrian ensured he arrived on time and in lightning fashion to the event at Shifnal Village Hall.

Watch Kiah celebrate his day:

His mother, Paula, said the day took six months of planning.

"We all celebrated with a pantomime and a disco, which is what Kiah told us he wanted," she said.

"I saw something on Facebook advertising a real Lightning McQueen car and I knew he would love it – anything to put a smile on his face.

"It was a very special moment and he absolutely loved it. He hasn't stopped thanking us and told all his school friends about it."

Kiah was diagnosed with a rare form of childhood cancer when he was two years old in 2016.

He spent his third birthday undergoing treatment and stem cell transplants, and was at the end of his treatment on his fourth birthday, too ill to celebrate.

"At the moment he is in stable condition," added Paula.

"He still has a small tumour that they can't surgically remove at the moment.

Amazing

"I want to raise awareness for childhood cancer as that raises more funding which is the only real way to cure it.

"For me and Adrian to see how far he's come is amazing – birthdays and special events like his first day at school mean everything to us.

"He also had friends come down that he made on the wards at Birmingham Hospital and Princes Royal Hospital which was a lovely surprise for him."

George Walker, who took the event booking for Shifnal Village Hall, said: "When Paula told me about hiring the hall for the party and Kiah's story, I thought it was something that people had to know about.

"He's been through a lot and has finally been able to celebrate his birthday, and what better way than with a real Lightning McQueen car."