WARRIOR Princess Florence Leppard is on the mend after battling a rare form of liver cancer.

Three-year-old Florence has been nicknamed Warrior Princess by her family after taking on a Herculean battle.

Florence was diagnosed with liver cancer last May after her mother Kerry thought she might be coming down with chicken pox.

Within a week her family had been handed the devastating blow that she only had a 5% chance of survival.

The family has now been told Florence’s cancer is in remission.

Kerry said she wanted to thank everyone who continued to support her including her husband John and Florence’s sisters Daisy, six and Elsa, almost two, through their ordeal.

Describing every mother’s worst nightmare, Kerry, of Wood Ride, Haywards Heath, said: “We just had to cope. I don’t really know how we did.

“We were trying to deal with the thought that Florence might not survive but at the same time manage looking after our other two girls who just wanted to know why we weren’t home.

“It has definitely taken its toll on her, her tiredness and her mood, but she’s such a strong character, quite a little madam and I’m sure that’s helped her fight through it.”

Kerry took Florence to their GP when she started to feel unwell last May. Her doctor realised something was wrong and sent them to the Royal Alexandra Children’s Hospital in Brighton.

Within days she was sent to Kings College Hospital for a biopsy and her parents were given the terrible diagnosis at the Royal Marsden specialist cancer hospital in Surrey.

She said: “From Friday to Thursday we went from having a normal happy toddler to have a child with a very rare form of cancer normally only seen in adults and only a 5% chance of survival.

“Florence just seemed a bit off colour and I couldn’t put my finger on it. I was expecting her to get the chicken pox.

“I took her to the GP expecting him to fob me off as a neurotic mum.

“But he was fantastic and picked up right away that there was something not right in her abdomen and sent us straight up to the hospital. By 10pm they thought she had a tumour.”

Since then Florence has had to have seven cycles of chemotherapy, lost her hair and had an operation to remove the tumour and two thirds of her liver.

Her parents have had to juggle ordinary family life with trips to hospital and looking after a poorly child, but said they could not have coped without the help of their friends, family and community.

Kerry’s mum Maureen and sister Lucy, who also live in Haywards Heath, and their extended family and friends helped out with looking after Elsa and Daisy and set up a rota for daily meal deliveries.

She added that John’s older children Simon, 29, and Kelly, 26, had been “fantastic” throughout.

She also thanked the CLIC Sargent charity which supported them through Florence’s treatment at the Royal Marsden and the medical staff who have helped her with her recovery.

John, who works for Brighton-based Family Investments, said his employers had been incredibly supportive of him needing time off and flexibility during Florence’s illness.

Kerry added: “Everyone has been so fantastic, we can’t thank them enough.

“Although Florence is in remission she will still need to be monitored and there is a high risk of it coming back, but through Florence’s treatment we’ve met some families who have been through so much worse so we feel lucky.”

While at the Royal Marsden the family were supported by Shelly who is part of a team of CLIC Sargent social workers who give practical and emotional support to families who are being treated at the hospital.

Kerry said: “She offered great support and is a wonderful resource. Without Shelly’s help I don’t think we would have managed.

“We have a great family network, my mum, Maureen and her husband Jerry and my sister, Lucy and her husband Adrian are vital in supporting us through this, as are John’s dad and sister and our extended family. We have marvellous friends who are supporting us on this journey with outpourings of love, encouragement and hope.

“We also have the support of a wonderful church, St Paul’s, and St Joseph’s school community who have lifted our family with their prayers and thoughts as well as an ongoing rota of meals delivered to our door daily.”

Sister Daisy has also been receiving support at her school from children's hospice Chestnut Tree.

Anna, Jenny and all the staff at Robins Nest nursery, which Elsa attends and Florence went to before her diagnosis, have also been supporting the family through the difficult time.

Family and friends unite to raise cash for charity

FLORENCE’S family and their friends have been raising money for CLIC Sargent.

Kerry’s mum, Maureen, and her husband, Jerry, organised an Irish Night in Haywards Heath last November which raised an amazing £1,700.

Family friend and seasoned fundraiser Geoff Major, who has already completed treks to the North Pole and Sahara, is planning a 100 mile row up the River Thames in May 2015.

A friend of Kerry’s from university days, James Stretton, is organising a gruelling coast to coast cycle ride in 2016, whilst Debbie Sheridan will be walking 34 miles in the London 2 Brighton Challenge, also in May.

Dan Powell, fundraiser at CLIC Sargent, said: “It is inspiring to read about the amazing support that friends and family have given Kerry, John, Florence and all of the family.

“I am delighted that CLIC Sargent has been able to help at this difficult time, and that people have chosen to fundraise on our behalf. Thank you from all of us at CLIC Sargent.”

For more information, or if you would like to support CLIC Sargent call Dan Powell on 01273 573847, or email dan.powell@clicsargent.org.uk Kerry will be taking part in the Marsden March, on March 22, with a team called team called Florrie’s Warriors to raise money for the Royal Marsden cancer charity.