A FIVE year old girl thought to have a virus now faces chemotherapy after she was found to have Leukaemia.

Lily May Filmer was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia after falling ill with a cough and a cold.

Mum Kayleigh Chapman said she was initially told it was probably a virus at her GP practice but returned to the doctor after becoming concerned about a bruise-like rash.

The family were sent to hospital and within two hours they were told Lily May had Leukaemia.

Mrs Chapman said: "I knew something was wrong but I thought I was being over-protective mum.

"When I look back I was completely on point.

"In the space of a day she completely changed.

"What I want to do is raise awareness of how fast it can happen.

"It is rare but it does happen."

Lily May is now starting more than two years of chemotherapy treatment and faces the possibility of unpleasant side effects and losing her hair.

She has already been given steroids which Mrs Chapman said had badly affected her.

She said: "The steroids have completely changed her.

"I get little glimpses of what she was like.

They make her moody, she's not talking to anyone.

"She's terrified of everyone because she thinks they will stick her with needles."

Mrs Chapman, from Drakes Broughton, described how they discovered Lily May's illness was so serious.

She said: "It started with a cold and a cough.

"She was looking a bit off so I kept her off school and the next day she got worse.

"I noticed she had these red spots, bruises, like a rash.

"I took her to the GP and they made me an appointment with the nurse practitioner.

"She said it was just a virus and sent us home.

"Two days later I woke up and the rash was everywhere.

"I saw the nurse again and she asked the doctor to have a look and they sent us to the hospital.

"Within two hours they said she had Leukaemia.

"It was absolutely horrendous."

Lily May was transferred from Worcestershire Royal Hospital to Birmingham Children's Hospital where a biopsy confirmed the results. She has since returned home.

Mrs Chapman said: "There's an 85 per cent chance she will get through this.

"It's a good chance but there's still that 15 per cent.

"If she gets a temperature I have to bring her straight to hospital.

"She has no immune system whatsoever. She could get a cold and it could knock her for six.

"This will be a journey we will take for the rest of our lives.

"Even when she's finished chemo and has the all clear, it will be in the back of my mind what if it comes back?"