Looking at the smile on Poppy Eden’s face, it’s hard to believe that this time last year the brave schoolgirl was undergoing emergency surgery for a brain tumour.

Poppy, 11, had been poorly for three years suffering severe bouts of sickness and headaches.

But it was not until after she had attended 22 medical appointments that Poppy was finally diagnosed with the condition.

Initially, her parents Karen and Tony Eden from Steven Close, Chatham, were told that their daughter was probably suffering from nasal congestion.

Convinced that there was something more seriously wrong with Poppy, Mrs Eden, 38, looked up her daughter’s symptoms on the internet and came up with the prospect that it could be a tumour.

She said: “It was the worst possible scenario. But we were told it was unlikely because the condition normally comes on suddenly and Poppy had been ill for years.”

In February last year Poppy woke up at the family home, holding her head in excruciating pain and could not lie down to get back to sleep.

The following morning her parents took her to A&E at Medway Maritime Hospital where she was given an emergency MRI scan.

Mrs Eden said: “I knew something bad was about to happen as were ushered into a quiet room. The scan had shown a mass on Poppy’s brain and within hours we were transferred to King’s College Hospital in London.”

Thankfully, the growth was not cancerous and she did not need follow-up treatments after the 10-hour operation in which about 60% of the tumour was removed.

Since then Poppy, who goes to All Saints’ Primary in Chatham, has made a remarkable recovery.

She has been able to renew her passion for dancing and even won a solo competition for Chatham-based Dance Alley school.

Mrs Eden and husband Tony, 42, who work shifts, take turns to look after Poppy and their son Alfie, 13.

Poppy is now preparing for a Wear A Hat Day at her school in Chatham on Friday, March 31 to raise awareness and funds for Brain Tumour Research.

Mrs Eden said: “Last year she was too poorly, but this year she is determined to join in with her classmates and encourage others to take part.”