A baby girl had to have a kidney removed after being diagnosed with cancer before her first birthday.

Parents Lolli Swan and Liam Blackwell, from Herne Bay, took daughter Bonnie-Mae to Margate’s QEQM Hospital after discovering a lump in January.

Following a scan they were dealt the devasting news that their little girl had Wilms’ tumour – a rare kidney cancer that mainly affects children.

Miss Swan, 34, explained: “We were then sent to Great Ormond Street Hospital for an MRI, which found she had it on both kidneys.

“Since then she has been in and out of hospital constantly with operations and scans.

“She had her entire left kidney removed in May and she had about a third of her right one taken away in June.

“The scar on her belly goes from one hip all the way to the other.

“She ended up in intensive care after the last op because she struggled to recover.

“Her heart rate was sky-high for three days and they couldn't figure out why.

“All of a sudden she took a turn and was really struggling to breathe. They had to rush her up to ICU.”

Doctors had to put Bonnie-Mae on a ventilator and in a medically induced coma.

Now at 16 months old, Bonnie-Mae is back at home and doing much better, but doctors are still trying to figure out why her right kidney is not functioning as it should.

They have told her parents she will likely be in and out of hospitals having scans, check-ups and blood tests until she is 18.

Despite the trauma she has been through at such a young age, Miss Swan says Bonnie-Mae has remained a “happy soul” and loves playing with her older siblings.

Wilms’ tumour usually only affects one kidney, but in less than 10% of children, like in Bonnie-Mae’s case, it can impact both.

“Doctors believe she has a genetic disposition that caused the Wilms’, so she could be prone to this sort of thing in the future,” explained Miss Swan.

“I know she will be in and out of hospital but there is still uncertainty about a lot of other things.

“We are waiting for genetic test results to come back but because they are so complex, they can take several months.

“After chemo, she feels a bit rubbish, but she is a happy little soul and bounces back to herself.”

To support Bonnie-Mae’s family through their difficult time, a friend has set up a GoFundMe page to help cover some of the costs they have incurred during Bonnie-Mae’s treatment, such as trips to and from London.

So far £360 has been raised out of the £1,000 target.

There will also be a fundraising event at The Conningbrook Hotel in Ashford from 2pm on Saturday, October 7, with live music and activities for children.