SWNS Olivia before the cancer returned
A little girl stricken with cancer could die in hospital in Mexico unless her family can raise enough money to fly her back to her home in Scotland.
Seven-year-old Olivia Downie travelled to Tijuana earlier this month to receive specialist cancer treatment. Devastatingly, she is now not responding to medication, and is bed-ridden and in a critical condition.
To her parents dismay, medics have refused her permission to fly home to Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire unless there is medical support on the flight.
Her 27-year-old mum Lauren - who is 25 weeks pregnant - now has to try and raise almost £140,000 to get her home.
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The heartbroken mum said: "I am hoping for a miracle where we can take her home and have her for a little while.
If she is going to die, we want her surrounded by friends and family that love her - not strangers in Mexico.
"I asked the doctor what her chances of dying are and they would just tell me she's in critical condition."
Olivia arrived at the Hope 4 Cancer Institute in Mexico at the beginning of June to have photodynamic therapy. She was booked on a flight to return to Scotland on July 2.
The brave little girl was originally diagnosed with stage four Neuroblastoma three years ago and given just a 20 per cent chance of survival.
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She had surgery and chemotherapy to try and treat a grapefruit sized tumour next to her kidney. Despite being given the all-clear in 2010, the cancer eventually returned, and her family took her to Germany for further treatment.
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Lauren and Steven, Olivia's dad, thought their little girl was finally cured, but tumours were then found in her spine and behind her breast bone, leading to her treatment in Mexico, so desperate were they to save her life.
Lauren says Olivia has now taken 'a turn for the worse'.
"She couldn't even hear me. I was trying to tell her that I love her, but she couldn't hear me."
Lauren and Steven, 34, are taking it in turns to sleep outside Olivia's hospital room, while the other looks after their younger daughter Jessica, 22 months.
They now fear the little girl will not live long enough to see her new baby sibling born.
Lauren had an ultrasound to find out the sex of the new baby just for Olivia:
"She got her dad to wheel her through in absolute agony and we found out it was a boy, which is what she wanted," said Lauren.
A close friend of the family has now appealed for donations to help them travel home. Michelle Higgins said: "When Lauren phoned on Tuesday night it was the worst phone call ever. I have never heard her cry like that."
Those wishing to donate can do so at justgiving.com/olivia-downie-appeal
What a heartbreaking story. Let's hope Lauren and Steven get to bring their brave little girl home.