Sidcup girl has first day at school after a life of leukaemia (From This Is Local London)

Sidcup girl has first day at school after a life of leukaemia

12:38pm Friday 14th September 2012 in News By George Sargent

A LITTLE girl, who has battled leukaemia since the age of one, has finally started her first day at school.

Her mum, Charlotte Davis, aged 23, of Gattons Way in Sidcup, said she was so proud to see her daughter off to school to the first time.

Paige, 4, was too ill to go to nursery school and has been in and out of hospital her whole life.

Now her illness is in remission, her treatment has finished and she is on the books at Royal Park Primary School of Riverside road in Sidcup.

Ms Davis said: “I am really proud of her. She is a fighter. She’s been like that since the beginning so she shouldn’t have a problem with school!

“It was really nerve-wracking at the start but we just have had to get on with it.

“I was worried because she hasn’t interacted with other people much. She’s only really been with adults.

“Now she’s really good but she does have a little cry and gets nervous because she didn’t get to do nursery.”

Paige was born 10 weeks premature and was delivered by emergency Caesarean after her mum suffered a brain haemorrhage.

She weighed only 2lb 8oz and had to be kept in an incubator under 24-hour care.

Just before her second birthday, Paige was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia after her mum noticed Paige’s neck was swollen and her body was covered in red marks.

She could not move and went back to intensive care. The chaemotherapy treatment she received caused her hair to fall out.

After getting better she suffered a relapse in February this year. Her neck swelled up again and she had an emergency operation to correct an important tube that had moved in her neck.

Ms Davis has huge admiration for the charity chYps which supported her and Paige through the treatment.

She said: “They have been really amazing and so helpful with it all. I can ring them up whenever I want. They know everything.”

ChYps have provided music therapy for Paige. They play instruments with her at EllenorLions Centre, East Hill Drive, Dartford.

Ms Davis said: “They have always been there for support. They have been amazing really for Paige.”

On Friday (September 21) chYps is holding a sponsored twilight walk in Danson Park in Bexleyheath from 6:45pm to 10pm. There will be food, drinks, dancing and music.

It costs £7.50 for adults and is free for children.

Pre-register at chyps.org to take part and get discounts on meals.