An eight-year-old who is battling a rare form of leukaemia had her spirits lifted by a special tea party at the Hamilton Princess hotel.

Kenzi Azab and seven of her friends dressed up in fancy hats and feather boas to mark the occasion, organised by the charity Child’s Wish. “I have never had tea here before, and it’s good,” beamed Kenzi who was dressed from head to toe in pink, her favourite colour.

The youngster was diagnosed with MLL leukaemia in March last year — a condition so rare her mother said only 300 people in the world are known to have it.

The diagnosis meant Kenzi, who lived in Bermuda until she was six years old, has endured intensive treatments including chemotherapy and radiotherapy. She was initially treated at Boston Children’s Hospital before being sent for further expert care in Denmark, where her Bermudian mother Sharon Azab has family links.

The spell overseas has left Kenzi missing her pals in Bermuda — so family friends Sheila and David Semos suggested Child’s Wish could help organise last week’s tea while she was home for Christmas.

“Kenzi and her friends are all very girlie. It was brilliant — a little bit of what she wants to make her feel special,” said Mrs. Azab after they had enjoyed their sandwiches and cakes. “It was good fun and they had a good laugh”.

Kenzi is currently part-way through a two-year course of treatment, and her mother said she is doing very well.

“She is doing better than expected. She’s coping very well — she is a tough cookie,” she added.

Child’s Wish has been helping children who are battling life-threatening illnesses or have suffered personal catastrophes since 1998. Anyone who would like to contact Child’s Wish can write to: Child’s Wish, Suite 971, 48 Par-la-Ville Road, Hamilton HM11 or call 777-9474.

Make A Wish lifts Kenzi’s spirits