And right now, the three-year-old blue-eyed tot is like any other youngster her age, and does all the usual things like going to nursery and playing with her siblings.

But life was not always like this.

In fact, her mum Rona describes it as a "miracle" she is here today at all - because in March last year the Macaskills' world stopped in its tracks when Phoebe was diagnosed with an aggressive childhood cancer called neuroblastoma, of which there are only 90 cases UK-wide. Phoebe was in stage four, the worst category.

It kick-started an eight-month rollercoaster ride of life-saving operations, chemotherapy, at least 70 blood transfusions - and times when Rona and her husband Chris (37), a joiner, did not know if their daughter would make it.

But amazingly, their little fighter did pull through and has now been in remission for a year. She is also enjoying her new status as a big sister to her nine-week-old brother Ellis.

Although her parents can never look too far ahead, as there is a 50 per cent chance of Phoebe's cancer returning, family life is back on the up.

And now they are backing the launch of the Highland News Group's Thursday Girl Calendar, being sold in aid of CLIC Sargent, a charity caring for children with cancer.

CLIC proved a saviour for the Macaskills, providing free accommodation during the family's eight-month stay in Glasgow during Phoebe's treatment at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children at Yorkhill, and offering other kinds of support as Phoebe battled for her life.

Full time mum-of-four Rona (31), of Lochend, said: "CLIC Sargent is an amazing charity. It provided accommodation for us at Cruachan House, which was a two-minute walk from Yorkhill.

"It is a block of flats with laundry facilities, play rooms, bedrooms, and you share your kitchen with one other family. It even had a free-to-use phone.

"Phoebe's oldest brother and sister, Jude (7) and Laina (6), still talk fondly of their stay at Cruachan House. It was such an horrific time, and with everything else going on, the last thing you could think about was finding accommodation."

Rona said Phoebe's illness started when she began complaining of a sore tummy and stopped eating.

She was admitted to Raigmore Hospital, but the symptoms were put down to constipation.

Then, while on a family holiday to France a short time later, she was still in pain, wasn't eating and needed to be lifted everywhere.

There, after tests, the family was told by doctors she was anaemic and prescribed iron.

Rona said: "But she wasn't getting any better and she was in such excruciating pain that, after driving back from France, we got here at 11pm, but we were in Raigmore by 1am."

Following blood tests in Raigmore, doctors broke the news that Phoebe had cancer.

She was flown to Glasgow's Yorkhill, where she was diagnosed with stage four neuroblastoma.

Rona Macaskill with daughter Phoebe (3), who was diagnosed with a very rare form of cancer. Iona Spence

It had started with a tumour in the adrenal gland, which spread to the lymph nodes, bone marrow and all bones.

Rona went on: "It was devastating. We thought we were going to lose her, and we didn't think they could do anything for her. We were told there was a 20 per cent chance of survival."

Immediately, Phoebe underwent chemotherapy, before the tumour was removed during an eight-hour operation last July.

The following month, she had further high-dose chemotherapy, followed by a stem cell transplant. But there was further turmoil when Phoebe, whilst still in hospital, contracted an infection because her immune system had been weakened by chemo.

Rona explained: "She was in intensive care for two weeks and became so critical there was talk about us losing her one night.

"She was put on a special ventilator but when they took her off that, they could not tell if she was brain damaged until she came round and started speaking."

After a while, she started talking, to the delight of her family, who hadn't heard her voice for weeks.

She had 14 further courses of chemo and was allowed back home in November last year.

Rona added: "She had around 40 general anaesthetics, and at least 60 to 70 blood transfusions.

"She is a miracle. She is developing well and to look at her now you don't know what she's been through. She is a happy, bubbly little thing.

"We don't know what the future holds, so we take every day at a time and pray the cancer doesn't come back. She goes to Yorkhill for MRI scans every six months and Raigmore every month for a check up."

But Rona is still grateful for the ongoing support provided by CLIC Sargent.

As well as accommodation, it also provided support workers who would sit with Phoebe in hospital while her mum popped out for an hour or two, and social workers for support, both here and in Glasgow.

In March this year, the family also stayed in the charity's free accommodation in Prestwick.

Rona added: "We went for a few days' respite, and the facilities were amazing. Phoebe loved it. Her favourite things were the toys!"

h.bushnell@highland-news.co.uk

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