Inspirational child cancer survivor meets TV doctor

LITTLE Izzy Herridge's dreams of becoming a doctor are a step closer to becoming reality after meeting a TV medic.
Izzy Herridge with Dr Ranj Singh  Picture: Oliver Dixon/ImagewiseIzzy Herridge with Dr Ranj Singh  Picture: Oliver Dixon/Imagewise
Izzy Herridge with Dr Ranj Singh Picture: Oliver Dixon/Imagewise

The seven-year-old cancer survivor battled lymphoblastic leukaemia when she was diagnosed with the condition in 2011.

Her treatment inspired her to dream of becoming a doctor – and she has now met CBeebies star Dr Ranj Singh.

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Izzy, of Deerhurst Crescent, Paulsgrove, spent time with the paediatrician after Cancer Research UK arranged for her to meet him.

Izzy Herridge with Dr Ranj SinghIzzy Herridge with Dr Ranj Singh
Izzy Herridge with Dr Ranj Singh

Izzy said: ‘It was so much fun going up to London.

‘I didn’t know who I was going to be meeting and when Dr Ranj surprised me I thought I was going to cry.

‘I’m going to work hard so that one day I’ll be able to help sick children, like the doctors who helped me when I was little.’

Dr Ranj taught Izzy about the human body when they met in the Wellcome Exhibition in London, showed her how to listen to a heartbeat and how to take blood pressure.

Izzy Herridge with Dr Ranj SinghIzzy Herridge with Dr Ranj Singh
Izzy Herridge with Dr Ranj Singh
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Her dad Wayne said: ‘Izzy loves to make things and to sing and dance, but most of all, she wants to be a doctor when she grows up.

‘She’s always playing doctors at home. At a recent hospital check-up she was given a real stethoscope that she carried around in her bag for weeks – she even took it on holiday. To come here and meet Dr Ranj was a dream come true.’

Dr Ranj added: ‘It was an absolute pleasure to meet Izzy.

‘She’s been through so much, but had such a positive outlook on everything.

‘She actually taught me a few things, and she’ll make a fantastic doctor one day.’

Dr Ranj appears on the BBC’s CBeebies show Get Well Soon.

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The trip was organised by Cancer Research UK Kids & Teens in a bid to inspire people about its life-saving research.

Claire Rowney, director of Cancer Research UK Kids & Teens, said: ‘In the UK, more than 1,700 children and around 2,400 teens and young adults are diagnosed with cancer each year.

‘Around three-quarters of children – up to 14 year olds – with cancer now survive beyond 10 years and many of the 33,000 long-term survivors have benefited from research funded by Cancer Research UK.

‘But treatments can often have a devastating impact on youngsters and their families and can result in long-term side effects.

‘So we’re calling on people up and down the country to support Cancer Research UK Kids & Teens to help give more children, like Izzy, a future to look forward to.’