A mum has fulfilled a promise she made to her daughter after she was given a devastating diagnosis following a viral infection.
Summer Jones from New Brighton, Wirral, was diagnosed with cancer back in 2019 after she had a viral infection. Mum, Leanne Tennant and dad, Barry Jones were shell shocked when they were told by doctors at Arrowe Park Hospital their daughter, who has Down's Syndrome, had leukaemia.
Speaking to The ECHO after her daughter's diagnosis, Leanne said: "We never thought it would be anything like cancer - we were transferred straight to Alder Hey but I don't think I was able to take anything in.
READ MORE: Scouse 'back-slang' Curtis Warren used to confuse police
"You associate cancer with people who are really sick, but she had just had a virus - it was such a shock."
Summer went on a two-year battle against the rare cancer that affects the white blood cells, spending weeks in hospital, having blood transfusions, chemo injections in her spine and losing interest in all the things she had loved before.
Leanne even admitted there was a time at the beginning of her diagnosis when she thought she would lose Summer. But one day a cellist came into the hospital to play for the children and Summer "came alive".
She said: "To this day, I think if that cellist had not come in we wouldn't have taken Summer out."
In August 2021 Summer had her own surprise party after being given the all clear, but her mum promised her she would be able to ring the bell at Alder Hey once the coronavirus pandemic had passed.
Summer, now seven, finally returned to the hospital earlier this month to ring the bell, after watching dozens of children do it while she was on a ward.
Leanne said: "She had seen so many other children in Alder Hey ring that bell while she was here and she always liked it. It just felt like the final piece seeing her ring the bell."
Summer is now back in school and enjoying being with her friends. Her mum said she's "back to being Summer."
READ NEXT
Family's heartbreak as 'selfless' woman, 19, dies
Final mission of gun thug shows why solving shooting cases critically important
Lost Liverpool and Wirral train stations long forgotten by many
Mum who was 'centre of her family' died after getting stomach virus 'that wouldn't go away'
