Brave Louise in VIP welcome back to school

Ss Aidan and Oswald pupil Louise Goulden arrives at school in luxury and is greeted by her friends.

IT'S not every day a seven-year-old gets a superstar welcome at school.

But if anyone deserved it, Louise Goulden ­- all smiles as she was greeted like a VIP by her teachers and fellow pupils at SS Aidan and Oswald RC Primary School yesterday ­- certainly did.

Brave Louise has only recently returned to school full-time after six months, as she was diagnosed with leukaemia in April and was hospitalised for four months. She initially went in school for the mornings as she was too poorly to spend the full day there. But it was only last week that she was able to go for the full day and only because the brave youngster requested it.

The Royton girl was nominated by a parent at her school for Key 103's Cool Ride to School prize, where a child is picked up from home and driven to school in a fancy car which contains all kinds of games and entertainment.

Her mum Janice Thompson (43) said: "Louise was so excited. She kept saying she felt really special, like a superstar.

"When we got to the school she was a bit hesitant because everybody was there but when she stepped out she had a big smile. She absolutely loved it."

Louise was diagnosed with leukaemia at the age of six. At first, her family thought she may have had the flu so they gave her ibuprofen.

When her symptoms did not improve they then went to the Royal Oldham Hospital. The doctor did not detect it straight away but when Louise didn't show any signs of improvement, a blood test was done which revealed what was wrong with her.

"She just wasn't eating properly," said Janice, a community support worker. "Her joints were aching and she was feeling cold.

"We thought it was the flu but the symptoms didn't disappear.

"We went to the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital where they told us the devastating news that she had leukaemia. Everything turned upside down.

"She underwent four months of intense chemotherapy treatment. Everything was hard but she was so brave.

"She got through it. She was so good.

"She can get an infection at any time though ­- I do worry.

"She wants to be playing like other children but I'm constantly worrying about her."

Fortunately for Louise, she also has the support of her loving sister Rachel (15) and her dad Stuart (43), as well as the entire school.

She is now in remission and needs to have regular hospital check ups. Nurses come once a week to the house to flush out her Hickman line.

Janice added: "She was really bubbly. Nothing frightened her. Nothing phased Louise, nothing bothered her.

"Now, she can be sheepish, a bit shy. It has changed her.

"She's very clingy with me, I can't go anywhere. She doesn't want anybody she wants mum all the time

"The teachers have been fantastic. They really have looked after her. The children at school look after her.

"I want to get the message out to people that it's important they get a blood test. Without that we would never have known."

Louise's family have set up a web page to raise money towards the Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust charity to thank them for looking after her.

To donate visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Stuart-Goulden.