Less than three weeks after surgery on her brain battling Lyla O’Donovan took on Roseberry Topping

Lyla O'Donovan with mum Kirsty and little brother Henry, 2, as they climb the steps to Penshaw Monument.

And dad Paul O’Donovan is hoping her amazing achievement will spur on other people going through difficult times.

Back in May, we reported how Lyla was allowed home just a day after having the 10th operation on her brain.

Since then, she has climbed the steps to Penshaw Monument and then at the weekend, she joined her family as they got to the top of the 1,050 ft Roseberry Topping.

Lyla O'Donovan with dad Paul at Roseberry Topping.

Paul, from Hartlepool, said; “Just over two weeks ago, she was in hospital and had brain surgery. Today she walked up there.It’s crazy.

“It didn’t help that the weather was windy and raining but she said ‘I am doing this dad and the weather’s not stopping me’.

“Hopefully it inspired someone never to give up because Lyla never does.”

Lyla’s surgery at Newcastle’s RVI hospital on Friday, May 22, was carried out to try to reduce the number of dangerous and frightening seizures she regularly suffers.

It was her tenth time on the operating table since she was diagnosed with the tumour in 2016 at the age of just three.

Surgeons gave the go-ahead for the operation last month, which she was due to have in March, after she was tested for coronavirus.

Lyla has also come through meningitis, been treated for hydrocephalus and had a shunt put into her head, all in the last four years.

Paul, 35, is married to Kirsty, 34, and the family now lives in Ushaw Moor, near Durham.

They are supporters of the Brain Tumour Research charity to raise awareness of the biggest cancer killer of children and adults under 40.

Paul is also planning a charity challenge on behalf of the RVI in Newcastle where Lyla has had many of her operations, and where surgeons have saved her life ‘over and over again’, said dad.

He plans to run 20 miles from his home in Durham to the hospital on Monday, June 29. To support Paul’s fundraising, people can donate at https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/run-for-lyla?utm_term=AM27dAK9W&fbclid=IwAR1-j2AqgMLZzGptXSAXuvXVKpHkO4u-Iqt0ERF2rhKcXd6336PWDcxYm-4

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