Brave Lauren gets special Christmas present
A BRAVE youngster who is battling leukaemia had an extra special Christmas after receiving an award.
Six-year-old Lauryn Atkinson was diagnosed with the disease just a few days after her fifth birthday in July last year and started intensive chemotherapy.
Despite contracting a life-threatening fungal infection in her lungs and ankle, Lauryn has kept a smile on her face throughout and her proud mother Claire, 27, decided to nominate her for a Cancer Research UK Little Star Award.
The family were delighted when, the week before Christmas, a package arrived at their home in Austerby, Bourne, telling Lauryn she was a winner and giving her a trophy, a bear and a certificate signed by her favourite Disney Channel stars the Jonas Brothers.
Claire said: "I saw a poster in Addenbrookes Hospital and decided to nominate her because I thought there's no better person than Lauryn.
"She's been absolutely amazing and has been so cheerful and positive throughout it all. That's what has got us through it all.
"She also shows care and concern for other children on the ward and goes out of her way to talk to them and calm them down if they are anxious about treatments."
Claire said Lauryn was thrilled when the awards came through.
She added: "I didn't tell her about it so it was a really nice surprise. When she saw it all, she was really amazed.
"She absolutely loves the Jonas Brothers and the night she received the award she actually slept with the bear."
And Christmas was made even more special for the family, which includes Claire's partner Derek Lees and their one-year-old daughter Evie, after Bourne and District Round Table gave them 500 to spend on Lauryn for special treats.
Claire, who gave up her job as a psychologist's assistant to care for Lauryn, said: "It is a huge amount of money for us and it means we have really been able to spoil her. We are so grateful."
Round Table spokesman Neil Bothwell said: "We were all touched by the letter that Lauryn's mum had written which described Lauryn's courage and bravery and the fact that she still manages to keep smiling through it all."
"It was a pleasure to meet Lauryn and present her with this donation and we truly hope the family had a Christmas that they can all remember for a long time."
Santa Claus delivered the delighted youngster a PlayStation 3 games console, which means she'll be occupied through her treatment, and a toy cash register. The family were even more thrilled that they were able to spend a quiet Christmas at home without a hospital visit.
The new year looks set to be a tough one for Lauryn as she continues chemotherapy treatment until November. Lauryn's fungal infection isn't expected to be cleared until after she completes the chemotherapy.
In the new year, she will need a two-hour course of intravenous drugs every day, which Claire and Derek will have to administer.
Claire said: "We have been in and out of hospital but we had an early Christmas gift when they said the fungal infection had cleared from her ankle. It is still in her lungs though and that is a worry. It has been very stressful.
"We have got quite a year ahead of us but Lauryn is so positive so I'm sure we'll get through it."
In 2011, the family will enjoy a holiday to Walt Disney World in Florida paid for by people across the town who heard Lauryn's story and decided to raise money for her. They collected more than 3,000.
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Friday 25 May 2012
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