The Arbroath girl who is awaiting a life-saving double lung transplant has put completing her bucket list of dreams on hold as she recovers from illness.
Top of seven-year-old Ruby Walker’s list is meeting the pop star Olly Murs, who sent a video message just before Christmas stating that he hoped to meet her soon.
Hayshead Primary pupil Ruby, who has cystic fibrosis, also completed her dreams of visiting Hamleys toy shop in London before her recent illness.
Mum Diane explained: “After we returned from London it was clear that Ruby wasn’t well. It turns out she had a nasty virus called adenovirus.
“We received a call from the transplant team on the Friday before Christmas to say that due to the virus she had she would need to be suspended from the list for six weeks.
“It knocked her for six and due to the nature of the virus and risks associated with having to lower her immune system after transplant, it was decided it would be too risky to consider her for the transplant.
“Ruby is now finally on the road to recovery, she is currently having another course of IV antibiotics for two to three weeks and fingers crossed will be active on the list again by the end of the month.
“Unfortunately you can see that this winter of viruses and chest infections have taken its toll on Ruby, we don’t know yet if it has had any effect on her lung function, but I am hoping once she is re-listed she doesn’t have to wait too long.”
Diane also revealed that she hoped a date would be set up to meet Ruby’s favourite pop star soon and that Ruby had made a handmade heart to give Olly when they meet.
There have also been offers come in for Ruby to be a zoo keeper, which is another of the dreams on her list.
“Things are still moving for her meeting Olly and we’re hoping to get a date on the next couple of weeks,” Diane continued.
“She has also had a few offers for being a zoo keeper so now she is starting to feel better we can move forward with them too.”
After The Courier’s story about Ruby, Olly made contact with Ruby’s family and sent a message to the youngster wishing her a “lovely” Christmas.
The pop star also said he hoped to meet her in person next year.
Ruby then created her own video message to Olly in reply, holding up a series of messages in front of a Christmas tree.
Ruby also hopes to be a queen for a day and become famous in the countdown to the major operation, which will take place at Newcastle’s Freeman Hospital when Ruby recovers from illness, and once a donor is found.