Lana Leeson, who lives with her family on New Street in Oundle, was diagnosed with rare blood disease similar to the cancer called Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis, a condition which can cause fever, enlargement of the liver and a fall in the number of normal blood cells. The disease is so rare that it only affects one in a million, and her parents were desperate to find a suitable bone marrow match.

Miraculously a suitable match was found from an anonymous donor and Lana was able to have her life-saving operation in Great Ormond Street Hospital late last year. She recovered well and was even allowed to return home for Christmas. In January she was even able to be at home to celebrate her first birthday with her friends and family.

Mum Vanessa said, “It wasn’t the first birthday that most babies have, but we didn’t think she would have even one. It didn’t matter what sort of day it was.”

While in hospital, recovering from her traumatic illness, she was even visited by former Beatle, Sir Paul McCartney. The hospital was celebrating Christmas with a host of celebrities, elves and fairies. Sir Paul sang karaoke during his surprise visit and had his picture taken with the children, including Lana.
She is now at home and enjoying playing with her brother Ben, who is two.

Although her health is improving she still has to take many different types of medicine every day, which will hopefully be reduced in time. Her mother, Vanessa Leeson is pleased with her recovery and told us, ‘Lana is continuing to progress well, her blood counts are increasing slowly and she is quickly picking up on the normal skills she put on hold while she was at her worst’.