A family who pushed for more tests on their 10-month-old daughter after being told she had overcome pneumonia were given the devastating diagnosis she has cancer.

Louissa and John Whitelock rushed baby Florence to Medway Maritime Hospital the day after their wedding in December.

But after Florence had treatment for pneumonia, Mrs Whitelock’s instinct told her there was still something wrong and she urged more tests be done.

Scans at Medway detected a shadow on Florence’s left lung and, after eight weeks of assessments, the couple were given the heartbreaking news she had a neuroblastoma tumour.

Mrs Whitelock, 26, said: “When they told me, it seemed like I was in a tunnel. I could see the consultant talking but I couldn’t hear what he was telling me. I just zoned out.

“When we came out, I was fine at first but then, all of a sudden, it hit me like a ton of bricks. It’s just heartbreaking.”

Florence was admitted to London’s Great Ormond Street Hospital where she had to have biopsies, bone marrows and MRI scans before starting a course of chemotherapy two weeks ago.

Since Christmas, Florence’s tumour has grown from the size of one tennis ball to two but tests show, thankfully, the cancer has not spread.

“Flo has taken the chemo in her stride,” Mrs Whitelock said, “and she’s not letting it stop her being the happy little girl she’s always been.

“To see her, you’d never think she was unwell.”

Florence will go back on Monday for a second round of chemo.

Mrs Whitelock, of Coronation Road, Sheerness, said: “The tumour is growing off the tissue of her spine and it has embedded itself on her main artery.

“If they can shrink it enough with the chemotherapy, they will be able to surgically remove it.”

Now the family are trying to raise £2,000 for the Elephant Ward, where Florence is being treated.

Mrs Whitelock, also mum to Evie, five, and Ralph, three, said: “The care and support the nurses and doctors have given us has been outstanding.

“One thing that we have noticed is the nurses use little strip thermometers which have to go under a baby’s armpit to take their temperature.

“Flo has taken the chemo in her stride and she’s not letting it stop her being the happy little girl she’s always been" - Louissa Whitelock

"I asked why they didn’t have digital ones and they said the funding process took quite some time.

“I said if we did the fundraising, would they be able to accept the equipment and they said yes.”

The £2,000 will buy 30 digital thermometers, but if the Whitelocks get more, they can fund more equipment such as sensory tubes and portable DVD players.

Just 24 hours after the JustGiving page was set up, more than £1,000 was donated.

Mrs Whitelock, who has had to give up her job as Thistle Hill Academy’s catering assistant to look after Florence, said she was overwhelmed with the support.

“You’d never expect your child to be on a fundraising page and it’s heartbreaking to deal with, but it’s so nice people, even complete strangers, want to help.”

• To donate, visit: tinyurl.com/Florence2k