Brave little schoolgirl meets Santa in Lapland (From Knutsford Guardian)
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Brave little schoolgirl meets Santa in Lapland
11:30am Friday 21st December 2012 in News
By James Wilson
Imogen hands Santa the letter from fellow St Vincent’s pupils
A KNUTSFORD girl who had an operation to remove a tumour from her pancreas has enjoyed a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Lapland thanks to a Manchester-based charity.
Imogen Davies, five, was diagnosed with a condition called hyperinsulinism in October 2011, which meant she had too much insulin in her body and was suffering from diabetic hypos despite not being diabetic.
She underwent tests after the diagnosis, and four months later during another scan doctors found a tumour in her pancreas, which was secreting insulin into her bloodstream, causing her to pass out.
The operation was a success, and because of Imogen’s bravery the charity When You Wish Upon a Star invited her on its annual Lapland day trip to meet Father Christmas and his reindeers.
The charity helps children suffering from life-threatening illnesses, and the Lapland trip is an annual event.
Her mum Sarah, of Tabley Close, told the Guardian her daughter’s illness had been a mystery.
“She had been ill and having these fainting attacks, and we didn’t know what was causing them,” she said.
“She had just started in reception at St Vincent’s, and I had to give up my job for six months to care for her.
“She had to have lots of tests but we were surprised when she was invited because she is fine now, but we were really happy as she had been through a lot.”
Imogen and her mum set off to Lapland on Wednesday, December 5, and made some of Imogen’s classmates at St Vincent’s happy by hand delivering their Christmas wishlists to Father Christmas.
“It was an extremely long day for us, we left at 4.20am and got back at around 11.45pm,” she added.
“I was amazed by the charity as I’d heard of it but wasn’t aware of who was behind it and how much they do.
“There’s only a handful of staff and there were 104 children and lots of volunteers and TV celebrities helping out.
“When we got there we went to the enchanted forest and Imogen went on a sled and went sledging and husky dog riding. We then went to meet Father Christmas and Rudolph and all of Imogen’s class had written to Santa so she passed them on.”
