Poorly Olivia joined by friends for special day

Still smiling and still happy, not even leukaemia can keep four-year-old Olivia Fowler down.
Olivia Fowler (4) playing at Little Blossoms Nursery at Werrington with mum  Angela Lock EMN-170328-173346009Olivia Fowler (4) playing at Little Blossoms Nursery at Werrington with mum  Angela Lock EMN-170328-173346009
Olivia Fowler (4) playing at Little Blossoms Nursery at Werrington with mum Angela Lock EMN-170328-173346009

The Bretton youngster enjoyed a memorable day out at Little Blossoms nursery in Werrington last Saturday, taking part in the many activities and even getting to name the teddy bear in the ‘guess the name’ challenge.

The day was special because Olivia has been so poorly recently that doctors have taken her off chemotherapy to give her body a break, but there is plenty of optimism that she will fight off the disease with doctors giving her a good chance of recovering.

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And the money raised at the nursery fun day will be spent giving Olivia memorable days out which will boost her immune system as it fights off the leukaemia.

Olivia Fowler (4) playing at Little Blossoms Nursery at Werrington EMN-170328-173456009Olivia Fowler (4) playing at Little Blossoms Nursery at Werrington EMN-170328-173456009
Olivia Fowler (4) playing at Little Blossoms Nursery at Werrington EMN-170328-173456009

Mum Angela Lock (43) said: “They said she’s got an 85 per cent chance to recover, but she is quite poorly so they had to take her off chemotherapy for the last couple of weeks so her body can recover.

“Her immune system is so low that she picks up everything that’s going. She’s had chest infections and a collapsed lung.”

Olivia was diagnosed last July when she was just three.

Angela recalled: “It was really, really sudden. I thought she had a virus. She was just sleeping quite a lot and was not herself. She had a ‘yellowy’ tinge to her skin and I took her to the doctor who was very good.”

Olivia Fowler (4) playing at Little Blossoms Nursery at Werrington EMN-170328-173456009Olivia Fowler (4) playing at Little Blossoms Nursery at Werrington EMN-170328-173456009
Olivia Fowler (4) playing at Little Blossoms Nursery at Werrington EMN-170328-173456009
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The GP sent Olivia to Peterborough City Hospital where it was confirmed after blood tests that she had a form of cancer.

She was then transferred to Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge by ambulance where the full diagnosis was revealed.

Angela said: “It’s your worst nightmare. At Peterborough they knew it was cancer but did not know her chances. It makes you think she won’t make it through the night.

“The first night at Addenbrooke’s I was praying they could treat it and she would have a chance.”

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Despite everything, though, Angela remains confident her daughter will make a full recovery.

“She’s amazing, she smiles all the time,” she said.

“We are all optimistic she will go well and recover. She’s a little fighter.

“Sometimes you still feel you’re in a dream world, you’re still wondering if you will wake up.

“You never think it’s going to happen to you.”

Angela was also hugely complimentary about Little Blossoms which has gone out of its way to look after Olivia despite her illness - “The nursery has been wonderful and a lifeline for her. She loves nursery - she does not get the chance for much social interaction. They have been undertaking specialist training. She has to have specialist feeds. They have been so helpful.”

To donate to Olivia, visit: www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/angela-lock