A BONE marrow donor has at last been found for Chelsea Noone.

The good news was broken at the end of a nightmare week for the eight-year-old leukaemia sufferer and her family.

Chelsea, of Alma Street, Radcliffe, had been rushed into the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital suffering from severe septicaemia.

"We had chanced a holiday in a caravan at Fleetwood because Chelsea seemed to be doing okay, but within days she deteriorated and we had to cut short the holiday," said her mother, Mrs Trish Noone.

"She was in a terrible condition and things didn't look good at all. The antibiotics weren't working and we began to prepare ourselves for the worst."

But Chelsea astounded doctors by pulling through and was well enough to jump for joy when she was told about the transplant. "It is absolutely brilliant, the best news ever," said a jubilant Mrs Noone.

"It was a terrible week, so for it to end the way it did was incredible. We are just all so glad that she is a step nearer to getting better again."

The volunteer bone marrow donor was found on the Anthony Nolan Bone Marrow Trust's national register and Chelsea will have the transplant in June.

Doctors will replace Chelsea's infected bone marrow with the donor's healthy marrow.

Mrs Linda Crawford of the trust said: "The crucial time is between two and four weeks after the transplant. That is when we will know if the marrow has been accepted and can produce normal, healthy cells."

When Chelsea first began complaining of headaches and coughs in 1995 her parents had no idea it was anything serious. But their lives were turned upside down when they were informed that their five-year-old daughter had leukaemia.

Chelsea underwent a gruelling course of chemotherapy which lasted two years, and in November 1997 the cancer went into remission.

But last September the headaches began again and the whole family were devastated to learn that the cancer had returned.

This time the only thing that could save Chelsea was a bone marrow transplant.

Chelsea's plight has touched the heart of everyone who has read about her.

Charity events ranging from a sponsored JCB pull to a celebrity tie auction have raised hundreds of pounds for Chelsea and the Anthony Nolan Bone Marrow Trust.

There have been a number of blood sample sessions to test for potential bone marrow donors.

A Radcliffe Friends of the Anthony Nolan Bone Marrow Trust was established.

And a massive Radcliffe to Bury fun run will be staged on June 27 to boost funds even more.

Some of the money will go towards the cost of donor testing and some is providing treats for Chelsea, including a family holiday when she is well enough.

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