Brave schoolgirl set to take the next crucial step in her battle against cancer

Seven-year-old Rosie, who is fighting neuroblastoma for the third time, will begin life-saving treatment in London next week.

The youngster will undergo whole body radiotherapy with chemotherapy from Wednesday.

This follows a setback after Rosie contracted pneumonia after returning from Barcelona for tests and the awful news that the disease has worsened.

Her mum Donna-Louise Hurrell said: "The neuroblastoma, which we have been trying so hard to keep stable, has progressed.

"Rosie has had some local radiotherapy to help with pain and is getting a different oral chemo.

"She is currently happy, pain free and fighting still.

"While the plan is still to get Rosie the antibody treatment we had planned, we need to get the neuroblastoma back under control to give this the best chance of success.

"There is a treatment called MIBG, a sort of whole body radiotherapy with chemo, that we feel will give the best chance of this."

Metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) is a compound that can be combined with radioactive iodine to deliver targeted radiation.

Donna-Louise, 40, said: "Rosie has a slot to start this in London on Wednesday.

"The plan is that we will be there for four weeks, then because the treatment will be tough on Rosie's bone marrow she will get stem cell recovery back in Glasgow.

"The plan after that will be to assess her levels of neuroblastoma and go for antibody treatment then."

Rosie, a pupil at St John's Primary, lives with Donna-Louise and dad Ross and her brothers Lucas and Dylan in Kingston Dock.

The family have been fundraising to pay for treatment that could save their little girl's life.

The current total stands at more than £167,000 but is still short of the £222,000 needed to give Rosie a fighting chance.

Her parents have been overwhelmed by the outpouring of support for Rosie.

Donna-Louise said: "We are so grateful.

"We will continue so we have the resources to get Rosie treatment she may need.

"Neuroblastoma is a horrible and unpredictable disease which can be aggressive but Rosie continues to fight this and amaze everyone with her determination and resilience

"The next couple of weeks and months will be very difficult but Rosie has had everything explained, understands and is determined to get back to remission with 'no more bad guys'.

"We went to meet the team in London the other day and she was singing and dancing and drinking hot chocolate in the middle of a busy Euston Station.

"It's pretty amazing for a child who has been through what she has."

To support Rosie on her journey visit https://solvingkidscancer.org.uk/campaigns/rosiemitchell/