Having opened up about her two-year-old’s brave and ongoing battle with cancer, Danielle Johnson speaks to Flossie Mainwaring-Taylor about how the devastating illness has affected her older daughter

WHEN you first meet the Johnsons, you would be forgiven for thinking that they were nothing other than a typical family of four.

Two beautiful girls and a loving mum and dad smile, laugh and joke with each other - just as any other would.

But for those of you who read yesterday's insight into the world of a two-year-old living with cancer, you will know that every other family's normal is a far cry from reality for this one.

Shortly before Christmas last year little Rosa was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.

Their world came crashing down and Danielle and Colin Johnson courageously faced every parents' nightmare while Rosa, too young to understand the implications, has bravely fought the disease in only the way she can.

For Danielle however, it is paramount that people recognise that she not only has one brave girl, but "two very brave girls for very different reasons".

After all, amid the chaos, the diagnosis, the months of hospital trips, and the end to the everyday routine, there has been Rosa's big sister Jasmine.

At the age of four she had to come to terms with finding out her beloved sidekick had a life-threatening illness.

In less than a year, Jasmine, now aged five, has had to grow up fast - and it has not gone unnoticed.

"Jasmine's whole world has been turned upside down," says Danielle, of Bishop Middleham, near Sedgefield, in County Durham. "What people don't understand is that as a sibling Jasmine not only has to see her sister go through a physical change and all the turmoil that goes with it, but she is now uncertain day to day what will happen with her - like whether she will be picked up after school.

"She has had to grow up really quickly and a lot has been expected of her."

From day one Jasmine wanted to be a part of her sister's fight and she showed a desire to learn about the disease.

The youngster conducted a class at Sedgefield Primary School to teach her friends about what would happen - opening herself up to difficult questions from friends, the hardest being whether Rosa would live or die.

At the Royal Victoria Infirmary, in Newcastle, Jasmine has made a name for herself among the other ill children on the ward who have described her as "their rock".

"She always gets an option to come to hospital in the holidays and she always comes and has made lots of friends," adds Danielle.

Jasmine has held her sister's hand through some of her toughest moments - watching as tubes have been inserted into her chest and while her chemotherapy has been administered.

On top of that she has had to let Rosa come first - giving up her own toys just to bring her some comfort.

Quietly, and maturely, Jasmine says: "It's brilliant being a sister because even though I have to give my favourite toys away I'm happy to do that."

Now, she has selflessly volunteered to grow her hair in order to to cut it off to give to those who, through chemo, have lost theirs.

Although she has her own fighting spirit, Jasmine has had support from a CLIC Sargent social worker called Kirsten Ellis, who has been by her side on days at school and at home.

Jasmine's strength in the face of such adversity has been so apparent to Ms Ellis that she nominated her for a sibling bravery award.

Unsurprisingly, Jasmine won the award from North-East charity Victoria's Wish which strives to help children with cancer and other life-threatening illnesses.

She was one of ten to receive the award at a ceremony at Middlesbrough hotel Sporting Lodge Inns yesterday (July 28).

Danielle explains: "She really does deserve it, it's not the support she's giving her sister but the support she's giving to other children on the ward.

"I feel totally honoured and overwhelmed that we've been part of such an amazing event."