A TERMINALLY ill little girl who travelled to Mexico for specialist medical treatment died yesterday, just two days after she returned home to Scotland.
Olivia Downie passed away peacefully in the early hours of the morning after losing her fight against cancer.
Her family said they were blessed to have had the seven-year-old in their lives, and thanked all those who had raised money to bring her home.
In a statement released through NHS Grampian, her mother Lauren and father Steven said: "It is with great sadness that we announce that our darling daughter Olivia slipped away peacefully this morning after her long and courageous battle.
"We are so thankful that, thanks to the generosity of so many people, we have been able to take her home to Scotland so she could have her family by her side. Words cannot express how grateful we are that this final journey was made possible.
"We would like to extend our gratitude to the medical and nursing teams, both at NHS Grampian and overseas, who have also been part of our lives for so long.
"We were blessed to have had Olivia in our lives and her cheeky smile that shone like a star will be with us forever."
Olivia and her family, from Fraserburgh in Aberdeenshire, flew to Tijuana earlier this month to be treated for neuroblastoma, an aggressive form of cancer.
While there, she fell seriously ill and her family were told that she would need costly medical treatment on the flight home.
A massive fundraising drive was then launched. The charity Families Against Neuroblastoma (FAN) helped the family and set a target of £110,000 to fund their journey.
Instead, more than £150,000 was raised in five days to bring the little girl back to Scotland in a private jet staffed by nurses.
Olivia and her parents touched down in Aberdeen on Wednesday and she was taken straight to Royal Aberdeen Children's Hospital.
Olivia was diagnosed in January 2009 after suffering severe backache and tiredness. Following visits to GPs, she was taken to Royal Aberdeen Children's Hospital and diagnosed with neuroblastoma.
FAN said Olivia had a tumour the size of a grapefruit in her stomach.
They paid tribute to the little girl with a message on their Facebook page, which read: "It is with deepest sorrow we share with you the news that our sweet, brave Olivia has gained her angel wings.
"Olivia, you were the bravest of hearts and simply adorable, you will be so sorely missed by many and remembered always. Play pain free among friends now sweetheart, forever seven."
Neuroblastoma is a cancer of the nervous system and can occur anywhere in the body.
Fewer than 100 children are diagnosed with it each year in the UK and most who suffer from it are younger than five years old.
The charity now has a petition calling for a campaign to raise awareness of the illness.
It said: "We are requesting a Government-funded awareness campaign to educate the public to recognise the signs and symptoms of neuroblastoma, and empower parents and GPs to adopt a policy of early testing when symptoms first present."
Fraserburgh councillor, Michael Watt, said it was an "extremely sad day" for the local community.
He said: "It is very sad, sad news and certainly everybody's hearts are with the family and our thoughts go out to them at this difficult time.
"It is a tragic situation and very traumatic and difficult for the whole family and I am sure everybody is thinking of them at this time."
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