Four-year-old Laura beats blood cancer to start school

A girl whose life was devastated by blood cancer has defied the odds to start school.

Laura Radkowska was on a drip in intensive care after being diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia at 14 months.

Today, Laura’s mother Magda said it was a “dream come true” to see her four-year-old daughter raring to go to Haberdashers’ Aske’s Crayford Academy.

After her diagnosis, Laura, from Bexley, was referred to chYps Children’s Hospice at Home and treated by the charity’s nurses. Her mother said: “As well as taking bloods and administering chemotherapy, the nurses took the time to talk to me and make sure I was doing okay.” She said her husband David was working long hours as an IT engineer. Laura’s treatment has now finished, although she still needs check-ups.

Mrs Radkowska, 37, said: “I never thought we were going to make it. Now a new door has opened for her.”

A sponsored walk for chYps will be held on Friday evening in Danson Park, Bexleyheath. For details go to chyps.org