BIG-HEARTED friends are rallying round to help the family of a young schoolgirl whose life was turned upside down by cancer.

Sophie Flannery, aged nine, was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma a fortnight ago.

Family friend Carolyn Jackson said: “It started out with a rash. Her doctors thought it might be an allergy, so she had some tests.

“She was still waiting for them to come back when she became really ill.

“One day she couldn’t climb the stairs in her house because she was so out of breath.

“They took her to Colchester General Hospital and her right lung only had 20 per cent capacity left because it was full of fluid.”

The Tendring Primary School pupil was taken to Addenbrooke’s Hospital where doctors .

Doctors then dropped the bombshell that she had cancer Non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

“They said it was very aggressive and comes on very quickly, but it can go very quickly as well,” said Ms Jackson Carolyn, whose daughter Hollie, aged 10 ten, is in the same class as Sophie.

“They think she will make a full recovery, so we just hope and pray that she does.”

Gazette:

  • Sophie Flannery during her treatment at Addenbrooke's Hospital 

Sophie’s parents Sarah and James are staying with her at Addenbrooke’s.

They take it in turns each day to make the 180-mile round trip home to Kirby Cross to look after Sophie’s big sister Hannah, who goes to Tendring Technology College.

Friends have launched a fund to help cover some of the costs of petrol and living expenses while Sophie is in hospital.

To donate, go to gofundme.com and search for Sophie Flannery.