It was the day Barrhead mum Diane Bryant feared she would never see...her daughter Jodie getting her first ever haircut.

Jodie was diagnosed with kidney cancer at the age of two and, in January 2016, underwent a tricky operation to remove a giant tumour that had developed.

She then began a nine-month course of chemotherapy, during which she lost all of her hair.

After the treatment was successfully completed, Jodie’s locks grew again, slowly but surely.

And on Friday, almost five years after the young cancer patient was given the all-clear by doctors, she went along to Barrhead salon Fringe Benefit with her mum to get her first ever snip.

In an amazing coincidence, she bumped into six-year-old Bliss McCarron, who had gone to the salon to have her flowing locks cut so they could be donated to the Little Princess Trust, which provides real hair wigs to children who are battling illnesses such as cancer.

There were emotional scenes as seven-year-old Jodie and Neilston schoolgirl Bliss – who had never met before – took it in turns to help cut each other’s hair.

Diane, 36, an NHS healthcare support worker, told the Barrhead News: “I finally managed to talk Jodie into getting a haircut, as she had never had one either before or after losing her hair to cancer.

“Her hair was her security blanket, as it is for many little girls, and it was super long after so many years.

“She was very nervous, without a doubt, but the staff were very good with her and made her feel at ease.

“It was also great to meet Bliss for the first time and hear her inspiring story.”

Diane and her plumber husband Robert, also 36, first realised something was wrong with Jodie in December 2015, just two weeks before Christmas, when they noticed her stomach was swollen.

They took her to their local GP, who had her admitted to the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, in Glasgow, that day.

Diane added: “At first, we thought the swelling might be some form of food allergy.

“It was alarming to be told by the doctor to take Jodie to hospital right away.

“The hospital carried out a biopsy, which discovered a Wilms tumour on her right kidney, and we were told she had stage two cancer.

“At that stage, Jodie was getting progressively worse and could not breathe properly. We were alarmed at how quickly she was deteriorating “The hospital immediately started chemotherapy to shrink the tumour.

“The operation to remove the tumour was carried out the following month. They also took out her right kidney.”

Jodie, who is a pupil at Carlibar Primary, impressed medics and loved ones with her recovery in the months that followed.

Diane said: “After nine months, we were told she was being downgraded to stage one and her treatment could stop.

“It was wonderful news.

“Since then, Jodie has had regular check-ups to make sure there is no recurrence or spread of the cancer.”

Diane said her daughter’s hair began growing back almost as soon as the chemotherapy stopped, just after her third birthday.

“Jodie soon became very attached to her hair and she wanted to grow it long,” she added.

“Now she is coming up to five years cancer-free and she can’t remember a thing about the operation or the treatment. However, it is something that her dad and I will never forget.

“Children are quite resilient at that age. You find your strength from them.”

At the time of Jodie’s cancer diagnosis, the couple were running a successful children’s party business.

Diane, who is also mum to 20-year-old Michaela, added: “It was really hard to keep going as normal and try to be happy and upbeat.

“We were arranging parties for other kids’ birthdays but didn’t know if our child would make it to her next birthday.

“Now she is such a happy wee soul – so full of life – and she really enjoyed getting her first ever haircut.

“I am sure there will be many more.”

Bliss, who attends St Thomas Primary, in Neilston, decided to get her hair cut for charity as she wanted to “donate it to another little Princess.”

Her proud mum Alana, 39, said: “We have been following the Little Princess Trust on Facebook for a while and I was showing that to Bliss a few weeks ago and she said ‘oh, I would like to do that.’ “I asked if she was sure, because her hair is her pride and joy, but she said ‘I would really love to do it. I want to give another wee girl nice hair.’ “She has been so sweet about it. I’m so proud of her.”

Bliss, who lives in Neilston with 18-year-old sister Codi and brothers Junior and Sonny, aged five and three, was sent some badges and balloons by the charity to thank her for her support.

Alana said meeting Jodie at the salon was “brilliant.”

“It was so emotional,” she added. “It was a total coincidence that Jodie was there.

“Bliss felt amazing after it. She wants to keep her hair short now. They took 13 inches off the back and 11 inches off the sides and she’s been flicking her hair ever since.”

To support Bliss’ fundraising efforts by making a donation, visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/bliss-mccarron1.