When Poppy Leach was treated for a suspected brain tumour, she and her family were forced to make frequent trips between two Oxford hospitals.

As a result, they understand the importance of having all paediatric services under one roof in a dedicated unit.

Four-year-old Poppy was admitted to the Radcliffe Infirmary exactly a year ago, when doctors found a shadow on her brain.

Following five hours of surgery and two weeks of recovery, the family was relieved to hear that the suspected tumour had been a benign cyst.

Her mother Georgie, 44, said: "The feeling you get when they tell you is not explainable. It's impossible to put yourself in that position until it's happened to you. You are totally devastated. It's one of those pieces of information that doesn't sink in for a while.

"The neurosurgeons explained exactly what it was, what the surgery would entail and what the risks were.

Poppy's Diary
Poppy Leach was diagnosed with a suspected brain tumour on March 21, 2003, and sent straight to the Radcliffle Infirmary. Here is the sequence of events that followed:

Wednesday, March 26
Brain surgery undertaken by neurosurgeon David McCauley. Transferred to JR paediatric intensive care by ambulance. Mr and Mrs Leach moved into "dormitory accommodation" at the JR.

Thursday, March 27
Transferred back to RI by late afternoon, by ambulance.
Started course of intravenous antibiotics.

Tuesday, April 1
Visit to orthodontist at JR using taxi for outward and return journeys.

Thursday, April 10
Returned home to Henley.

Just being in a place with people who were experts and knew exactly what they were doing was a real comfort."

Poppy became seriously ill after a holiday in France, where she fell and hit her head.

Because doctors back in England thought her symptoms were caused by a head injury, they failed to find the 'tumour' until she had a 20 minute seizure and was taken to hospital for a scan.

During three weeks' of treatment, Mrs Leach and her husband James, 49, of Basmore Avenue, Lower Shiplake, Henley, became used to travelling between neurosurgeons at the city centre's RI, and vital paediatric intensive care and other tests two miles away at the John Radcliffe Hospital, in Headington.

Freelance video producer Mrs Leach said: "In terms of getting everything under one roof, the children's hospital will make a huge difference.

"We had to get into a taxi a couple of times to go to the JR for tests, and that seemed to me to be a massive disruption."

Despite the turmoil, the family said the care and attention they received from staff was first-class, and have now joined the campaign to boost funds for the children's hospital.

They organised a Moroccan-themed ball, which raised more than £18,000 enough to sponsor two parents' counselling rooms planned for the new building.

Mrs Leach said: "We were just so impressed with everybody at the JR. They helped us through what was such a horrendous time and made it so much better.

"Unless you've been in a children's ward you have no idea what goes on - just looking around and seeing children who may never recover from their conditions.

"You see a lot of children and parents who come and go all the time. You draw strength from that because people are in the same position as you.

"Everyone is so cheerful and positive. It makes it better - not least for very little children."