A LITTLE girl with a winning smile has lost her brave battle against cancer.

Zoe Dobson, 22 months, from Christchurch, died last week after contracting swine flu while undergoing a further round of treatment.

The youngster had been having intensive chemotherapy at Southampton Hospital following a special Christmas at home with parents Emma and Jeremy Dobson.

Mum Emma said: “Everything was going well. She had finished the chemotherapy but as is typical with chemotherapy her immune system was extremely low.

“Zoe was transferred to intensive care at Southampton and put on a ventilator and sedated. The next two weeks were up and down and there wasn’t any significant improvement. But the hospital was fantastic. They tried so many things but in the end nothing could be done.”

Zoe was diagnosed with neuroblastoma in August last year after appearing a little off colour. The youngster had gone through a number of gruelling treatments including having stem cells harvested for transfusion and surgery to remove the tumour between her stomach and her spine.

Last month she was given a Little Star award from Cancer Research UK for her bravery.

Emma added: “Zoe was amazing. She was our very beautiful and very brave little girl.”

Her funeral will be at Bournemouth Crematorium on Wednesday.