This Morning presenters Ben Shephard and Cat Deeley celebrated a special guest on the show on Thursday, welcoming young Florrie Bark to the ITV programme via video link.
The child cancer campaigner, who won the Child of Courage award at the 2024 Pride of Britain Awards and has gone viral online for sharing her story, recently underwent a lung transplant. Florrie had been diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia, a rare and aggressive form of cancer, at the age of five in 2022. She later underwent intensive chemotherapy and a life-saving bone-marrow transplant and more recently, had a successful lung transplant after being on a waiting list.
Speaking to presenters Ben and Cat, Florrie and her mum Stacey shared a health update, as Florrie explained how she was feeling well having returned home from her visit to Great Ormond Street Hospital. Recalling the moment she knew she would be getting a lung transplant, Florrie shared: “It was amazing. Mummy was crying, daddy and mummy were both crying. I was just like, yes!” She added she rushed off her bed to pack her outfits and wore a little tiara in the ambulance, with mum Stacey saying Florrie wore the crown as she went into her operation.
Stacey went on: “It’s like having a newborn again, when they start doing things, you celebrate every win, every little step she’s taking, even if with her hand or trying to do it on her own. Me and Andrew just cry constantly, she’s just done amazing. That’s a big thank you to the team at Great Ormond Street because they’ve just been really good with her. And Florence as well, she studied lung transplants and how you had to do all the stuff after to keep them working and to make sure you’re in the best possible position, and she’s just not moaned once, she’s just got on with everything. It’s been amazing.”
After isolating to prevent the risk of infection, Florrie shared how excited she was to return to school for a few days a week to start with. She said: “I might be able to go to school and expand my bubble of people in about two to three months. I’m really excited. I’ll be able to see my cousins inside, because I’m only to see them outside, but I’m allowed to see my grandparents and my aunties and uncles inside if they’re well.”
Viewers hailed young Florrie as “inspirational” and a “legend” as she returned to their screens. One said: “What an absolute Angel is Florrie beautiful girl,” while another wrote: “Florrie is an inspirational ray of sunshine.” “Oh my gosh #Florrie has made me well up on #ThisMorning What a great little story,” another wrote. Someone else said: “Aww she’s done so well going through all that.” Yet another viewer urged for Florrie to be given a medal, while someone else said: “Bless her, she’s got such a infectious little smile.” “Florrie is such an inspiration, makes me realise any problems I have are nothing compared to what she’s been through. And she just keeps smiling! Such a beautiful little soul,” another wrote. Someone else said: “Shout out to the family who donated their child's organs so another one could live. Shows the importance of organ donors.”
Earlier this month on This Morning, Florrie’s dad celebrated the news of her lung transplant. Speaking about the moment he learned the news of the transplant, Andrew said: "I don't think my heart stopped pounding really, everything was a bit of a mad rush. We went in to tell Florence, we had to wait a little bit because we knew we were going to be getting picked up a couple of hours later. So, we had a bit of time to get things ready before we needed to get to the hospital. We were a bit worried about maybe telling Florence and Freddie [her brother], it's like a big thing. But Florence woke up with the biggest smile on her face, she was more worried about making sure she had a tiara to wear when she got to the ward... She was more than ready."
This Morning airs weekdays from 10am on ITV1 and ITVX.
