Dream comes true as brave five-year-old Lancaster girl meets her Gruffalo hero
A brave five-year-old diagnosed with a rare life-threatening blood condition has seen a lifelong dream come true.
Ruby Marshall, who was diagnosed with Pearson’s Syndrome at just 11 months old, met with her hero, Mouse, from the popular children’s book, The Gruffalo.
In a world first, Mouse is appearing at The Gruffalo & Friends Clubhouse in Blackpool and Ruby was given the VIP treatment by the Merlin-owned attraction when she met Mouse, took part in a very special storytelling session and got to spend the morning with her hero.
Ruby, from Lancaster, said: “I love Mouse – it is my favourite character ever! I have all of the books and it was just so exciting to meet Mouse in person. It is a day I will never forget!”
Ruby met Mouse together with her mum Nikki and dad John, and sisters Connie, nine, and Freya, seven.
Ruby was diagnosed with the rare mitochondrial disorder Pearson’s syndrome, which required her to have regular blood transfusions every few weeks for more than two years.
It is estimated she needed up to 30 to 40 units of blood from life-saving strangers to help to keep her alive.
Nikki said: “Pearson’s syndrome is ridiculously rare and doesn’t have a great prognosis, there is no cure and little research around the condition. We feel lucky that Ruby is still alive as a lot of babies don’t make it to their first birthday.
“Ruby is well at the moment, though, thanks to her blood transfusions, so we are treasuring that and trying to make as many special memories for her as we possibly can while she is well.
Nikki added: “We’re ever optimistic that Ruby has the best case of Pearson’s and we will have a while with her.
"She’s absolutely perfect, she has hit incredible milestones which we never anticipated she would.
"So, putting our terrified hearts in a box we’re determined to give her a wonderful loving life while she is well.”
The generous donations of blood have been central to this and given Ruby the strength to play with her sisters and brother, Jack, 16, for another day – buying the family even more time together.
Her story comes as the NHS urges more people to donate blood, particularly O negative blood, the universal blood type that Ruby relied upon during her treatment.
Those life-saving donations have helped make special moments like today possible, allowing Ruby to meet Mouse at The Gruffalo & Friends Clubhouse, where the beloved character is making his first-ever live appearance.
Jenn McDonough, general manager at The Gruffalo & Friends Clubhouse, said: “It has been a very special day welcoming Ruby to the attraction and to meet Mouse.
"It was so lovely to see that big smile on her face when she met Mouse for the first time. We want to make dreams come true for children and hopefully today we did exactly that! Mouse is a character generations have grown up with and we can't wait to welcome even more families throughout the summer.”