A MOTHER is delighted after the medic who helped treat her daughter’s dangerous facial birthmark was shortlisted as one of the county’s Hospital Heroes.

Lynn Bailey feared the worst when five-year-old Beatrice developed the mark which threatened her eyesight.

She decided to nominate paediatric consultant Kokila Lakhoo for our Hospital Heroes award to celebrate her extraordinary work after the medic helped put all her worries to rest.

Mrs Bailey, from Banbury, said: “We are so pleased and she really deserves it.

“I think it’s important to reward people when they have made a big effort and, sometimes, things are done behind the scenes that we don’t always know about. I don’t know where we would be without her, to be honest.”

Mrs Bailey said her daughter was born “perfectly fine” in January 2010 but started to develop a large birthmark on her left cheek within a couple of days.

It grew rapidly and began to protrude into Beatrice’s left eye. The blood-filled sac then invaded the whole of her eye socket and started squashing her eye.

Mrs Bailey said Beatrice was about five weeks old when their GP told the family to visit the John Radcliffe Hospital, where they later met Dr Lakhoo.

She said Beatrice underwent four years of treatment using a drug to help shrink the size of the birthmark.

The youngster has since needed surgery last year and again in April.

After weekly appointments with Dr Lakhoo and at the Oxford Eye Hospital, Beatrice now only needs annual check-ups.

Mrs Bailey said the family’s ordeal could have been much more difficult but for Dr Lakhoo.

She added: “I wasn’t coping until this amazing lady walked into the room and all my fears disappeared.

“Nothing has ever been too much trouble – she reassured us and nurtured us as new parents with a sick child.”