Claudia Burkill was diagnosed with Metastatic PineoBlastoma in 2011, and was told that the brain tumour was inoperable.
'The mere joy of being alive today far surpasses any other single day in my life so far.'
But after undergoing an experimental treatment called The Milan Protocol, the little girl's prognosis has been completely reversed this week.
After receiving the results of Claudia's latest MRI scan on Saturday night, her mother Andrea posted on Facebook:
'I will keep this incredibly brief as I am finding it impossible to concentrate, impossible to focus and in truth to breathe and not just scream myself into a senseless fit. I will try and get online tomorrow and write a full explanation to the very best of my limited medical knowledge but….CLAUDIA IS CLEAR…CLAUDIA IS CANCER FREE. CLAUDIA IS NO LONGER CLASSED AS TERMINALLY ILL.'
'A miracle has happened, it really has….I just can't stop shaking and I need to sign off. Love to each and every one of you.'
Her mother returned to Facebook the next day to make the amazing statement that it was also three years to the day that she had first picked up the phone to NHS direct after realising something was seriously wrong with Claudia.
'Today is our first day of freedom,' she wrote, 'A freedom so far lost and forgotten, the mere joy of being alive today far surpasses any other single day in my life so far.'
'There is only one way to go….and that is the way we are all going, as a family of six. Always & Forever.'
The Milan Protocol has actually been scrapped according to Andrea, as the brain damage associated with using it is so severe. Claudia has not escaped the treatment unscathed, and has a much lower brain volume than that of a normal eight year old.
Despite this, Andrea and her family remain incredibly positive in the face of the recent news, accepting that life may not be the same for Claudia, but it will be a life at least.
'The damage, as I understand it, should not continue to get any worse, and we all know that when you are on the very bottom, there is only one way to go….and that is the way we are all going, as a family of six. Always & Forever.'