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A schoolgirl battling leukaemia and her pet black Labrador have developed an incredible bond while the 11-year-old undergoes cancer treatment.

Lily Bellamy, from Swansea, became best friends with family pooch Beauty while she was having chemotherapy and was not allowed to see her school friends for a year.

Throughout several rounds of chemotherapy and strong medication including steroids, Lily said Beauty was always able to make her smile, and made her feel better about losing her hair to chemotherapy because Beauty was moulting as well.

As Beauty is praised a ‘hero’ and even received recognition at this year’s Crufts, the Bellamy family has revealed she also helped save the life of Lily’s father Wayne, 53, when he had a seizure while taking her for a walk. 

Now Lily’s cancer treatment is thankfully showing signs of blasting the illness, as Wayne and Lily’s mother Joanne have said their family dog is ‘amazing’. 

Lily Bellamy, 11, and her pet black Labrador Beauty (pictured) have become the best of friends after Lily was diagnosed with leukaemia just weeks after her family brought the new pet home. Now, she is on the road to recovery (although she is still undergoing treatment) and has praised Beauty for making her smile when her strong medication and chemotherapy made her 'sad and angry'

Lily Bellamy, 11, and her pet black Labrador Beauty (pictured) have become the best of friends after Lily was diagnosed with leukaemia just weeks after her family brought the new pet home. Now, she is on the road to recovery (although she is still undergoing treatment) and has praised Beauty for making her smile when her strong medication and chemotherapy made her ‘sad and angry’

The Mirror reports Lily has been undergoing cancer treatment for the last two years after being diagnosed with leukaemia.

Just two months before the devastating diagnosis, the Bellamys brought home Beauty, whom they had adopted from a shelter.

And the family had no idea how much they would end up leaning on Beauty as they were about to go through an incredibly difficult period while Lily had chemotherapy.

Lily said: ‘When I was ill, I wasn’t able to see any of my friends for 12 months, so she was my best friend throughout my treatment. She always made me happy and put a smile on my face.’

Lily (pictured in hospital with a pillow with Beauty's face on it) underwent chemotherapy and had to take a cocktail of tablets including steroids to treat her leukaemia

Lily (pictured in hospital with a pillow with Beauty’s face on it) underwent chemotherapy and had to take a cocktail of tablets including steroids to treat her leukaemia

Wayne, Beauty and Lily

Wayne, Beauty and Lily

Lily’s father Wayne, 53, revealed Beauty saved his life when he was out walking her and fell into deep water, at which point the pooch saved him ‘from drowning’

She added the steroids and other medication she had to take often made her ‘sad and angry’, but that when Beauty was around it helped her to calm down.

Wayne previously told WalesOnline that Lily’s medication had had an affect on her mood and sometimes led her to refuse tablets, but with a bit of encouragement from Beauty, she would oblige.

He also revealed how Beauty had helped him with his own health as an epilepsy sufferer.

First diagnosed with the condition at 12 years old, Wayne’s symptoms worsened after Lily was diagnosed with leukaemia, partly as a result of stress.

While out on a walk with Beauty when she was still a puppy, Wayne slipped and fell into deep waters in a flooded nature reserve.

‘I went face down, smashed my glasses and cut my head. Beauty got into the water, burrowed down underneath me, and got me onto all fours. It kept me from drowning. She saved my life,’ he said.

And the heroic pooch even helped Lily feel better when her hair fell out as a result of chemotherapy.

She said: ‘When I was losing hair, she was losing hair too, as she moults so much. I was brushing her and huge clumps of hair would come out. That made me feel better.’

Lily’s father Wayne revealed how he and her mother Joanne struggled to watch their daughter have cancer treatment, but that it was a relief to see how Beauty always made her smile.

‘When Beauty walks into the room she can bring Lily back to her normal self,’ he said.

Thankfully, Wayne added Lily’s most recent scan showed no signs of new leukaemia cells, in a positive step towards her recovery. 

She is still undergoing leukaemia treatment until October, but is able to mix with her friends more and can even go on school trips.

Recently, the 11-year-old made a trip down to London, and even took part in a Christmas pantomime at the Swansea Grand Theatre in 2022 with her big sister Ruby, 14.

As the Bellamys are optimistic about their future, Wayne hailed Beauty for holding them together during such a tough time. 

Beauty’s positive impact on the family was so great that she was entered in to this year’s Crufts awards in the canine hero category.

Although she did not win the accolade, the difference she has made to the family has been immense.

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This post first appeared on Daily mail