A BRAVE youngster who successfully overcame leukaemia has been honoured by a cancer charity.

Lucie Ball, from Birkdale, was presented with a Cancer Research UK Little Star award for her courage and positive attitude.

The seven-year-old was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in November, 2005.

Lucie was admitted to Alder Hey children’s hospital at the end of November that year, and did not return home again until December 23.

She spent most of the following 10 months in hospital receiving chemotherapy treatment, blood transfusions and was admitted every time she caught an infection due to her immune system being so weak.

Lucie, who lost her hair during the treatment, missed about 18 months from school and her mother, Suzanne, had to give up work for six months to care for her.

The Birkdale Primary School pupil was over the moon when her baby brother, Fintan, arrived in June, 2007, and helped her mother care for him despite facing eight further months of chemotherapy.

Her mother said: “Even though Lucie went through such a tough time and was so ill, she never moaned or complained and just got on with it.

“Lucie was so thrilled when her baby brother arrived and tried to do everything she could to help me even though she was feeling so weak.”

Lucie’s treatment was completed in February of this year, and she will need check-ups every nine weeks.

She is looking forward to being a bridesmaid when her mother and father get married in Mauritius in October of year. They had planned to marry in 2006, but cancelled as Lucie was so ill at the time.

Cancer Research UK Regional Spokeswoman, Jane Bullock, added: “Lucie is an exceptional little girl and richly deserves the award. Both she and her family are fantastic ambassadors for Cancer Research UK and an inspiration for others.”

The Cancer Research UK Little Star Awards, in partnership with TK Maxx, acknowledge the challenges faced by youngsters with cancer.

lizawilliams