Ref. 26066-48A LITTLE girl who defied the odds to battle back from a life-threatening illness is looking forward to starting her first day at primary school next month.

Doctors refused to give odds on how successful Hannah McCarthy's bone marrow transplant would be and for a while her family faced an agonising decision of whether to take a chance on the operation or bring her home to die.

But now four-year-old Hannah, of Marlborough Court in Wootton Bassett, is brimming with energy and enthusiasm and cannot wait for her first day at Longleaze Primary School on September 9.

Her mother, Kate, 35, said: "Hannah was born with all sorts of problems she was anaemic, had an enlarged liver and needed a bone marrow transplant. We could not find a match after a worldwide search, she was very sick and I faced the most difficult decision in my life we're very lucky to get through all this.

"Starting mainstream school is the one thing we have aimed for all along and I'm thrilled she will be starting next month." Doctors diagnosed Hannah with a condition known as haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis a rare form of leukaemia, but are confident she can now make a full recovery.

When Hannah was 18 months old, surgeons at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London performed a bone marrow transplant using stem cells donated from her father, David. The operation took four hours.

But last week was something of a momentous occasion when Hannah finally had an eating tube removed. Since then she has been tucking into her favourite food ice cream, with gusto.

"The doctors couldn't give us odds on whether she would make it through the transplant, but thank goodness we were brave enough to go ahead with it," added Kate.

"She was known as a little miracle at Great Ormond Street. Since she's been home she has made fantastic progress. Hannah's got a great personality and that is what has kept us going.

"Now I just hope that the transplant keeps her stable or even cures her condition."

She has adapted to her special dairy-free diet well especially as for a while she had no concept of being hungry or thirsty. She has to take special enzymes to help break her food down and will have to take medication for the rest of her life, but at a glance she is no different from any other energetic four-year-old.

Hannah, whose favourite hobbies include horse riding, dancing, watching Noddy and listening to the Cheeky Girls and Gareth Gates, said: "I'm looking forward to having lots of boyfriends, wearing my new uniform and running around in the playground."

Hannah's cousin, Dawn Tooze, 16, said: "I want to pay tribute to Kate who has been fantastic. She's a single mum, coped with everything really well and really brought Hannah on."