Over $200,000 has been raised to get seven-year-old Olivia Downie home to Scotland from Mexico after her family flew to the country for a last effort at cancer treatment.
A terminally ill seven-year-old who went to Mexico for specialist treatment could return home soon after more than £130,000 ($200,000) was raised for her.
Olivia Downie, from Fraserburgh, Scotland, and her family flew to Mexico earlier this month to get treatment for neuroblastoma, an aggressive form of childhood cancer that attacks the nervous system and can affect the lungs, skin and brain, reported the Press Association. While in Mexico, Olivia fell seriously ill and her family was told she would require expensive specialist medical treatment to take any flight home.
According to Scotland's Daily Record, Olivia's mother, Lauren, 27, who is six months pregnant, said: "I am hoping for a miracle where we can take her home and have her for a little while. If she is going to die, she should be surrounded by her family and friends that love her, not strangers in Mexico."
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The charity Families Against Neuroblastoma (FAN) has been helping the family and had set a target of £110,000 ($170,000) to get Olivia home, reported the Scotsman. A JustGiving page was set up to raise the money and, as of last night, had reached £134,423 ($209,092). FAN now said the family can travel home "as soon as (Olivia) is physically able to come off a ventilator."
"Olivia has opened her eyes on her own so we are hoping she won't need the life support machine soon. We have now received an estimate cost so far from the hospital, which amounts to $95,000,"a spokeswoman for FAN said, according to STV. "Medical bills are still mounting, so donations are still welcome, but Olivia will be coming home as soon as possible."
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