A three-year-old girl from Ayr was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia after her broken leg failed to heal properly. Lilly-ann Larmour is now undergoing intensive treatment at Glasgow's Royal Hospital for Children that is expected to continue for two-and-a-half years.
The devastating diagnosis came as a shock to her family when routine blood tests revealed the cancer. Her mother Chloe Wells (26) said: "Lily-ann is going through five weeks intensive treatment and then she has a further six months of chemotherapy and she will be in and out of hospital during that time."
Treatment challenges ahead
The toddler faces significant health risks due to her weakened immune system caused by the chemotherapy treatment. Wells explained: "Because she doesn't have an immune system due to the treatment she is going through, we hope the GoFundMe page will help us to make the home better for her."
The single mother also cares for five-year-old daughter Lexi-Rose, making the hospital stays particularly challenging for the family. Wells said: "Lily-ann misses her sister terribly" while she receives treatment away from home.
Family fundraising effort
Lilly-ann's aunt Emma Lindsay (32) has established a GoFundMe campaign to raise £4,000 for home modifications. Lindsay explained: "Lily-Ann had hurt her leg and was a bit under the weather but when she got the cast off, she still wasn't right."
The family aims to create a safe environment for when Lilly-ann returns home between treatments. Lindsay said: "The devastating news that has flipped our lives upside down" but praised the toddler as "a wee fighter" despite currently battling an infection requiring antibiotics.
Understanding the condition
Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia is the most common cancer in young children, particularly those aged one to four. The condition affects blood and bone marrow, progresses rapidly, and is treated with chemotherapy and steroids.
Daily Record reports that young children typically have high survival rates for this type of leukaemia. Symptoms can include bruising, fever, and reduced appetite, though these signs often overlap with other childhood illnesses, making professional medical assessment crucial.
Sources used: "Daily Record", "Edinburgh Live", "Mirror" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
