KEY POINTS:
Wanganui Mayor Michael Laws' young daughter Lucy has been readmitted to hospital with an infection.
The three-year-old had been staying at Auckland's Ronald McDonald House while being treated at Starship Children's Hospital for leukaemia.
Mr Laws said that as she underwent chemotherapy treatment she was more susceptible to infection than most children her age.
"She went to theatre and came out with a temperature of 39 degrees," Mr Laws told the Wanganui Chronicle.
Yesterday, she had so much pain she was unable to walk.
He said it was unclear exactly what the infection was, but it was probably caused by Lucy's poor immune system.
"We have been warned this is the case, and the reality is, even with a best-case scenario, it will be a roller-coaster ride for our family life. We just have to hope it works out."
In happier news, it has been revealed Mr Laws and his partner Leonie Brookhammer are engaged.
Mr Laws told Woman's Day he proposed on Christmas Day with a ring chosen with the help of his son, James.
He also revealed Ms Brookhammer was pregnant with the couple's third child.
Mr Laws has two adult children from previous relationships, and Ms Brookhammer has two additional teenage children.
- NZPA
