SIX-YEAR-OLD Erin Birdsey is looking forward to Christmas after treatment in the USA following surgery to remove a brain tumour.

Erin visited Florida with her parents Rachael and James, both 34, and two year-old brother Oliver for a 10-week course of proton beam therapy.

Following a 10-hour operation in the summer to remove the tumour radiotherapy was used to treat any rogue cells.

Now back home in Firdale Park, Northwich, Erin is looking forward to Christmas, and her mum watched her play an angel in the nativity play at her school St Wilfred’s Primary.

“We’re happy to be home and grateful Erin is doing well,” said Rachael, a play specialist at Leighton Hospital.

During their stay in Florida the family visited to Disneyworld and swam with dolphins.

“There were challenges, but we met some lovely families going through the same experience, and not a day went by without laughter or smiles,” said Rachael.

The family is keen to raise awareness of The Brain Tumour Charity’s HeadSmart campaign for earlier diagnosis of brain tumours in children and young adults.

Erin was diagnosed in July after an optician noticed a build-up of pressure behind her eyeballs.

Rachael had made an appointment at Boots Opticians in Northwich after she took Erin to the family’s GP after she had been complaining about headaches, and it was suggested she have her eyes checked.

She had an MRI scan at the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital, and the family was told Erin had a brain tumour.

Following a 10-hour operation she was in intensive care for two days and home within a week.

Biopsy tests showed most of the tumour had been removed, and she had further surgery a month later.

The family flew out to Florida in September, and Erin had 33 40-minute sessions of proton beam therapy.