Former cancer patient, 6, returns to hospital to be 'doctor' for the day

A six-year-old girl diagnosed with cancer said she dreamt of following in the footsteps of the "kind and very polite" doctors who made her "feel better".

Bellamy-Rose, who lives in Feltwell, Norfolk, was given the all-clear in November after being diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in 2023.

Over two years she underwent seven intense chemotherapy treatments, lost her hair and had to be fed through a tube.

Bellamy-Rose is now thriving, according to her family, and recently got to be a doctor for the day at West Suffolk Hospital – a dream she told the BBC she hoped to turn into a reality when she was older.

"I liked the blood test parts more than the other parts because they give me a teddy, and I've also had two billion blood tests," said Bellamy-Rose.

"I want to be a doctor because they were nice and kind and very polite and made me feel better. Yes, [they are my heroes], so, I want to work with them," she added.

During her day as a doctor, Bellamy-Rose was given her own staff badge and scrubs, prepped patients for surgery and visited operating theatres and blood laboratories

She also got to treat patients, including one with "fidgety legs", give out pretend prescriptions, take phone calls and tinker with various bits of medical equipment.

Her mum, Paige, 27, who previously lived in Beck Row and Mildenhall, in Suffolk, said: "It was amazing and she was allowed to have fun and just be a child.

"She has missed out on so many opportunities going through her cancer treatment, and no child should have to live in isolation for so long, so she had the best time."

Bellamy-Rose's condition was considered high risk when she was first diagnosed.

The first year, Paige said, was "the toughest", but trips to West Suffolk Hospital and Addenbrooke's Hospital, in Cambridge, soon became "normal routine".

"The whole world literally just came crashing down and our life took a complete 360  overnight when she was diagnosed," added Paige.

"We saw traumatic things that no parent should ever see their child go through – like having to pin them down to receive medication which was essentially saving her life.

"It was challenging, and it has had a lot of ups and downs, but it's definitely made us a stronger family unit."

Since her treatment ended, Bellamy-Rose has returned to school and is doing well, but will continue to have monthly check-ups for the next several years.

"I've been with her every single day of the journey and I'm very, very proud of her – it's made her more determined and she's got absolutely no fear," said Paige.

"It's not something you want to go through and I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy, but she is so headstrong and can now achieve anything she wants.

"It is nice to see her becoming the little character that she is."

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