BRAVE leukaemia sufferer Aimee Read is recovering well after the bone marrow transplant which could save her life.

Five-year-old Aimee underwent the transplant on Friday at the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital at Pendlebury.

It ended a year of anguish for her family who feared a suitable bone marrow donor might never be found as they watched her battle against the condition.

Aimee's mum, Wendy, said: "She is doing very well at the moment. She went to hospital on New Year's Eve for an anti-rejection drug and then had chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

"The actual transplant was a bit of an anti-climax because it is just like having a blood transfusion. To Aimee it was just another medical procedure. She was sitting colouring while it was being done."

Aimee will spend between four and six weeks in isolation in hospital before she is allowed home to Moorcroft, Edenfield. She is likely to pick up an infection because her immunity is low but doctors will be able to treat that.

Wendy said: "It will be 12 months from the date of the transplant until we know if the transplant has been a complete success, but we should see signs that it has worked by the time she comes home.

"People often think that once the transplant has been done she is cured but it is not as simple as that. The first year is crucial."

Hundreds of East Lancashire people - including 120 police officers from Blackburn - offered to be tested for a match for Aimee's bone marrow when her condition was first made public.

And Wendy is keen to encourage other people to come forward and offer to go on the bone marrow register.

She said: "We want to keep raising awareness because the last 12 months have been so difficult for us, waiting to see if a donor would be found. There are so many other people who need donors."

Anyone interested in becoming a donor should contact the Anthony Nolan Bone Marrow Trust on 0990 111533.

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