What a very special surprise for a courageous girl who has had yet another brain operation

Lyla O’Donovan has been told that she and her dad Paul, from Hartlepool, will be treated to a dream trip to Tenerife.

She is in hospital at the moment where she has just had an ICP bolt (Intercranial Pressure) inserted into her skull. It will have a fibre optic cable attached which pushes through to test the pressure on her brain.

This is thought to be the 12th brain operation that Lyla has had even though she is only eight years old. Yet as she lay in hospital where she is having tests, Lyla got some great news.

Thanks to a project called the Tenerife Retreat, Lyla will get to stay in a luxury villa in November. Dad Paul said it was ‘amazing news’ and added it was the ‘perfect time to tell Lyla and get her the lift she needs’.

Lyla has lived with a brain tumour ever since she was three but she has always thought of the struggles that other children are going through.

She has her own charity called Lyla and Lilley’s Stars which belongs to her and her sister Lilley.

It has just launched a new project called the Rainbow Retreat which aims to send seriously ill youngsters to a luxury villa in Tenerife.

But what Lyla didn’t know was she won’t just be arranging for other children to enjoy the villa – she will be going to the retreat herself.

Paula Dawson runs the retreat with husband Rich. She said: “Up until today, Lyla only thought she was helping children go on a holiday to Tenerife. We have just informed Lyla over FaceTime that she will be the big sister to all the other children at the Retreat.

“Tenerife Retreat are funding all costs for Lyla and Paul to join us for the week.”

Paula added: “Today was such a magical and emotional day.”

Lyla and Lilley’s Stars teamed up with the owners of the Tenerife Retreat who run a 10-bedroom villa with a hydrotherapy pool, 9 bathrooms, three living areas, two kitchens and lots of space.

The is to raise £10,000. That will cover the cost of six children and their families going to Tenerife on November 16 for a week-long stay.

People can support the plan by making donations here.

The Rainbow Retreat will become reality as long as the money has been raised by the end of September and more than £2,000 has already been gathered within days of its launch.

Only children who have been seriously ill can go with their families. The trip is limited to two parents and two children per family. The only potential cost for the families might be the flight to Tenerife, depending on how much money is raised, but the villa will be paid for.

Lyla is well known to Hartlepool Mail readers after winning a Child of Courage trophy at the 2019 Best of Hartlepool Awards. She has spent a quarter of her life in hospital.

To support the Rainbow Retreat and make the dreams of poorly children come true, click here.

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