The family of a courageous little girl are hoping they can give her the best Christmas yet as she continues her battle with leukaemia.
Olivia Hughes-Smith, four, was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) in August this year after complaining of pains in her leg. Shiremoor parents Sophia Hughes and Andrew Smith's world was turned upside down when they received the devastating diagnosis.
However, mum Sophia, 36, said she had an instinct that the leg pain Olivia was feeling wasn't just growing pains and pushed for further tests.
Since then, the brave youngster has been at the Royal Victoria Infirmary every week as she undergoes chemotherapy, lumbar punctures and regular steroid treatment. Olivia has amazed doctors with her fight but as she embarks on an even more intensive course of treatment, mum Sophia hopes she will be well enough to spend Christmas at home.
"She has been so brave," Sophia said.
"She is getting sick of being prodded and poked every time we go to the hospital, but she is still doing it. It's absolutely horrendous watching her go through it.
"Now we are on a really intensive part of her treatment called delayed intensification which is just blasting her again with chemotherapy, steroids and theatre.
"She might be in hospital on Christmas Day [but] she has done really well so far so she could completely prove us wrong. Doctors have said to watch her temperature, watch in case she is pale, and just keep an eye on her."
Olivia is constantly monitored by doctors and if her blood count drops she needs a transfusion. She also has a nasogastric (NG) tube through which she receives her medication including chemotherapy and steroids.
With treatment expected to last more than two years, the family faces a long road ahead but said they are grateful that Olivia's cancer was caught so early.
"I think if we had caught it two weeks later it could have been so different," Sophia said.
"The doctors said it is so rapid and that if it had been another week or two she would have started with the nose bleeds and a rash on her skin."
Parents Sophia and Andrew have been on a mission to give Olivia the best Christmas possible and have taken her to see Fenwick's window, to meet Santa and to watch the panto at the Theatre Royal. Olivia's Christmas wish to receive a Barbie campervan and Barbie aeroplane also looks set to come true.
A Just Giving page has been set up by friend Phillippa Aldridge that has raised more than £5,000 to support the family as they take time off work to care for Olivia during her treatment.
"The fundraiser has massively helped because I can't go to work as I need to monitor Olivia 24/7," Sophia said.
Praising the staff at the Royal Victoria Infirmary, Sophia added: "I am so thankful for the NHS. If I didn't have the NHS I don't know what we would have done. The nurses make it so fun for the children on the ward, they are amazing."
To donate visit: https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/phillippa-aldridge-2?utm_term=VN5z4DK7q
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