Gabriella looks forward to birthday after her op

A brave little girl is looking forward to a birthday party to remember after having surgery at Great Ormond Street Hospital.

Gabriella Petherick, three, was diagnosed with a-typical mycobacterial lymphadenitis, an infection of the lymphnoids, in August last year.

She was first treated at the William Harvey Hospital in Ashford, and travelled to London for surgery last month to remove four lumps on her neck and is now recovering.

Her immediate family, who have recently moved from Ashford to Rochester, will be fundraising for the London hospital at her Hawaiian-themed fourth birthday party on Saturday, July 22.

Mum Louisa Petherick, 28, said: “There was a lot removed. One of them was about six centimetres.

“Her condition is very rare because she has it on both sides. Most children only have it on one side.

“The ward had seen it before. It filled us with confidence.

“Hopefully she gets her confidence back a bit.

“The party is something for her to look forward to while she was in hospital. Everybody that has helped can come together.”

The family are asking that no one buys Gabriella presents and that they donate instead to the Just Giving page www. justgiving.com/fundraising/ GabriellasgivingtoGOSH