THE mother of brave Hannah McCarthy is relishing Christmas this year because it is something she thought her daughter might never see.

Shortly after the five-year-old was born she was diagnosed with haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis a rare form of leukaemia. Doctors at London's Great Ormond Street performed a bone marrow transplant when she was just 18-months-old, but refused to give odds on how successful the operation would be.

But now, three-months after she started at Wootton Bassett's Longleaze Primary School, the bouncing youngster and her family are looking forward to their first 'proper' Christmas together.

Her mum Kate, 35, of Marlborough Court in Wootton Bassett, said: "It's been a life-threatening story and we've all lived on the edge, but Hannah is now much stronger and able to do much more.

"Christmas may never have come for her so this is a real bonus and one we're all really looking forward to. Every Christmas is a bonus, really.

"School seems to have gone remarkably well and the teachers say she is really sociable and knows everyone.

"I don't think Hannah is so keen on staying full-time, but we'll cross that bridge when we come to it.

"Hannah is really excited by Christmas, which we will spend with family in Minety, and has been asking 'is it Christmas yet?' for the past month so we're all geared up for it now."

Hannah was born anaemic and with an enlarged liver. Since then she has had to endure countless operations and take a cocktail of drugs.

But since she reached a personal milestone back in September, when she bounced through the school gates for her first day at school, her family have taken every day as it comes.

It has been a case of setting small targets and this will be the first Christmas Hannah enjoys without her feeding tube, which was removed earlier in the year.

After doctors said they could not predict how successful the bone marrow transplant would be Kate faced an agonising decision whether to take a chance on the operation or bring Hannah home to die.

"Surgeons eventually conducted the four-hour operation using stem cells donated by Hannah's father, David.

She still has to take medication every day, but has begun to fill out and is now enjoying activities her peers take for granted, like dancing lessons.

Kate added: "Hannah was known as a little miracle at Great Ormond Street she's got a fantastic personality, a great smile and she's made fantastic progress. We're all really proud of her.

"Hannah is mad keen on dolls and wants a Babyborn for Christmas it will be lovely to see her strong enough to be able to unwrap her presents and play with her toys."

gsheldrick@newswilts.co.uk