Ruby Carr, three, of Longton, near Preston, was a bubbly, healthy youngster until she became ill three weeks before a family holiday to Ibiza.

Mum Amanda Carr, 34, said: "Ruby was two-and-a-half at the time and told us her ears and throat were hurting and she was very lethargic and seemed generally unwell.

"I took her to the doctors repeatedly over the space of two-and-a-half weeks and she was given antibiotics, but there was no change.

"We had one day when she was up all day and night screaming with agony and no pain relief worked for her."

Amanda decided there was no way they could go on their holiday while Ruby was so unwell and the day before they were due to fly, she took her daughter to the doctors again.

While they were there, Ruby's eardrum burst and the doctor took a swab and sent them to the Royal Preston Hospital.

Amanda said: "At first, they thought Ruby had an infection and put her on a drip and tested her blood.

"A few hours later, they came in and as good as gave me a death talk.

"They said they were really sorry, but Ruby's blood was not working properly.

"She was not producing red or white blood cells and did not have many."

Ruby was sent to the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital in Pendlebury where she had to undergo a blood transfusion as her haemoglobin levels were so low.

She was then diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia – which is a form of cancer of the white blood cells. It is the most common type of leukaemia in children.

Ruby underwent five weeks of intensive chemotherapy and since then, she has been on different types of chemotherapy.

She has completed her last course of intensive chemotherapy and is now on maintenance chemo, which she will last until May 2009.

Amanda said: "Ruby has to have two years of chemotherapy in total and if 18 months after that the leukaemia has not come back, the chances are that it won't. In about 80% of children, the leukaemia doesn't return."

Amanda and Ruby's dad Russell Carr, who lives in Leyland, are proud of the way their daughter has faced her ordeal.

Amanda said: "Ruby has been fantastic through it all and is so brave and accepting.

"Ruby is always singing and dancing and is a very happy kid.

Sometimes, with the treatment, she is in a lot of pain and cries, but the rest of the time, she is happy.

"I have to constantly monitor her temperature and if it goes over 38, I have to get her straight to Pendlebury.

"At times, I have had to take her there at 2am.

"I just want Ruby to come through all this and be a healthy little girl again."



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