Little girl fighting cancer dresses as herself for 'Superhero' costume day

published 5 November 2015

When four-year-old Josie went to her nursery 'Superhero' costume day dressed as herself, it might have caused a little confusion at first.

However, her mum, Alyssa Butler, explains that her daughter is the bravest superhero in the world - because she has been battling Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia since June 2013.

'She's something - she's really outgoing, she's not scared of anything in this world I don't think,' Alyssa says.

The pre-schooler from Missouri, USA, was looking through her wardrobe in preparation for the costume day, which was held to promote anti-bullying awareness at her school, and couldn't find anything traditional – like Spiderman or Batman - to wear.

So mum Alyssa said, '"You're mommy's superhero, so do you just want to go as yourself?" She lit up with a big smile and from there she just ran with it.'

Josie not only went to school wearing the cape, complete with lightning bolts and the crime-fighting slogan 'Super Josie - Destroying Cancer One Day At A Time' but also came home and wore it to sleep that night.

Image:Facebook Josie's Journey

Recording Josie's recovery on the Facebook page Josie's Journey, Alyssa revealed: 'I read it [the cape] to her and she absolutely adored it. She was running around smiling. She was really proud of it.'

Josie is currently in cancer remission but will have to undergo further chemotherapy and daily doctor's appointments for the next few years to ensure the disease does not return.

Describing the moment she was diagnosed, her mother added: 'It was the worst thing I've ever heard in my life. It was scary and it was really a big test of faith and everything you believe in but we got through it. She's never even gotten sick from her chemotherapy - she's been a trooper.'

Alyssa hopes that Josie's story will continue to go viral and show other children that have cancer to 'be their own superhero'.

'To see how strong they are and what they are capable of', she says.

Trusted, informative, and empathetic – GoodToKnow is the ultimate online destination for parents. At GoodtoKnow, our mission is 'simple': we're trying to make sense of parenthood. On the site, you'll find everything you need for a happy, healthy family life. Our huge archive of content includes more than 18,000 articles and 1,500 how-to videos. These include expert-backed advice features on parenting, dealing with relationship changes after having a baby, self-care for mums and managing your family finances. We also feature tried-and-tested product reviews and buying recommendations for every stage of family life - from prams and Moses baskets to birthday gifts and top toys.