Brave Yate 12-year-old Jessica makes most of final months (From Gazette Series)

Brave Yate 12-year-old Jessica makes most of final months

9:30am Wednesday 3rd March 2010

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SCHOOLGIRL Jessica Davies is making the most of her final months after being told her cancer is terminal.

The 12-year-old, from Yate, knows how ill she is and her family is rallying round her to make sure she lives every day to the full.

Jessica, a Year 8 pupil at Chipping Sodbury School, was diagnosed with an aggressive form of leukaemia two years ago and had to undergo intensive treatment at Bristol Children's Hospital.

Initially, it seemed that the gruelling treatment had worked but in the summer of 2009, her symptoms returned.

Jessica’s dad Derek said: "After that it became clear that this was a very aggressive form of leukaemia that couldn't be treated.

"They told us that there was nothing more they could do and that Jessica only had a few months to live."

He said Jessica had dealt with the devastating news extremely bravely.

"From the first year that it was diagnosed she has been brilliant – and she's being brilliant now," said Derek, a machine operator.

"We've never lied to her, and whenever she has asked us a question we've answered it as honestly as we could.

"To be told that there was nothing more that could be done was such a knockback. It's been very hard on her, but she's accepted it very well.

"We've been so impressed with how she has dealt with it. She was upset that she was going to lose her hair again and that she'd have to stop horse riding, but she has been determined to do her best to keep on living life to the full."

He said the family, including his wife Alison and their younger daughter Katie, nine, had been doing as much as they could with Jessica.

In recent weeks, the family has been to Centre Parcs, watched an England versus Wales match at Twickenham and Jessica was a mascot for the Bath Rugby team. Jessica also appeared on stage with the High School Musical 2 cast and met JLS at their recent concert at the Colston Hall in Bristol.

Said Derek: "We're trying to do as much as we can with her: making each day count and creating some wonderful memories. Also, it helps to take her mind off it for a bit.

"Friends have been trying to help us by arranging memorable events for Jessica. We've been inundated with kindness in the last couple of weeks."

Derek has taken unpaid leave to spend time together as a family during Jessica’s final months. A campaign has started in Yate to help cover their living costs and a fundraising aerobics class will be held at Stratford Park Leisure Centre in Stroud on Sunday, March 7 (3.30-4.30pm).

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