A little girl who spent time in hospital has returned to the ward which treated her to donate items for other ill children to enjoy.

Eastern Daily Press: Rainbow Ward patient Toby receives a visit and gifts from Lavinia Crosbie and her mum Lucy. Picture: West Suffolk NHS Foundation TrustRainbow Ward patient Toby receives a visit and gifts from Lavinia Crosbie and her mum Lucy. Picture: West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust (Image: Archant)

A year since she was diagnosed with a rare cancer, one-year-old Lavinia Crosbie visited the Rainbow Ward at West Suffolk Hospital.

Accompanied by her mother Lucy the pair, who live in Thetford, wanted to say thank you for the treatment Lavinia received.

They also donated a range of toys to help make the children being treated on the ward smile.

Mrs Crosbie said: 'The nurses on the Rainbow Ward are lovely. The care Lavinia received was so personal and everyone did their best to make it homely given we spent so much time here.

Eastern Daily Press: One-year-old Lavinia Crosbie with her mum Lucy who visted West Suffolk Hospital's Rainbow Ward to say thank you for the treatment Lavinia received. Picture: West Suffolk NHS Foundation TrustOne-year-old Lavinia Crosbie with her mum Lucy who visted West Suffolk Hospital's Rainbow Ward to say thank you for the treatment Lavinia received. Picture: West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust (Image: Archant)

'Lavinia is doing really well now, and we decided to raise some money as a thank you and to ensure other children can be entertained during their stay on the ward.'

During her treatment for retinoblastoma, Lavinia spent six months in and out of the Bury St Edmunds-based hospital.

Mrs Crosbie and her husband Steve first noticed something was wrong with the then eight-and-a-half month old in a chance moment when they noticed a white reflection in their daughter's eye when she was sat near a lamp.

Eastern Daily Press: Lavinia Crosbie from Thetford has recently undergone her final chemotherapy treatment for Retinoblastoma. Lavinia is with dad Steve and mum Lucy May 2017. Picture: Sonya Duncan Copyright: Archant 2017Lavinia Crosbie from Thetford has recently undergone her final chemotherapy treatment for Retinoblastoma. Lavinia is with dad Steve and mum Lucy May 2017. Picture: Sonya Duncan Copyright: Archant 2017 (Image: ARCHANT EASTERN DAILY PRESS (01603) 772434)

'Our hero' - Steve and Lucy Crosbie hope their daughter's cancer battle can help othersShe was diagnosed with the eye cancer and treatment at West Suffolk Hospital included blood transfusions and courses of antibiotics due to the fevers she experienced as a side effect of her treatment.

Lavinia finished her chemotherapy in March and is now in remission.

The family have held raffles and local businesses have donated prizes. They raised more than £300 to buy a range of toys including books and comics.

'We were so happy to raise money to support such a fantastic ward,' Mrs Crosbie added. 'Lavinia, like all little ones, sometimes found it hard to sleep in a different environment, so we also purchased a projector with lights and music.

Eastern Daily Press: Lavinia Crosbie from Thetford. Picture: Sonya Duncan Copyright: Archant 2017Lavinia Crosbie from Thetford. Picture: Sonya Duncan Copyright: Archant 2017 (Image: ARCHANT EASTERN DAILY PRESS (01603) 772434)

'We hope this will help other children to relax and drift off to sleep.'

Dawn Dorrington, Rainbow Ward manager, said: 'The donated gifts will make a real difference to the wellbeing of children and young people that stay on the ward, and we would like to thank Lavinia and her family and friends for their generous support.'