Best gift is seeing our happy little Amy

From the archive, first published Tuesday 3rd Jan 2006.

AMAZING Amy has celebrated seeing in 2006 in remission from leukaemia, overcoming the odds.

In February 2002, doctors predicted that she had just one hour to live, but the brave six-year-old has battled back to health and has been in remission for 18 months from the life-threatening disease.

Amy's father, Darren, said that the family had enjoyed a very special Christmas.

"I don't know how she does it," said the 33-year-old, of Rainbow Hill in Worcester.

"She's always smiling and is never sad."

He said that he and Amy's mother, 29-year-old Laura Duffy, enjoyed a traditional Christmas with the youngster and her brother, 14-year-old Ricky, and her sister, 10-year-old Casey.

"Amy really enjoyed it and got everything she wanted," he said. "It was nice to see her face when she opened her presents."

Over the years, Amy has captured the hearts of countless Worcester News readers.

Since 2003, the family has raised nearly £26,000 for research into leukaemia at Birmingham Diana Princess of Wales Children's Hospital, where Amy received her life-saving treatment.

Last year they raised £14,650 through a variety of fund-raising events, and hope to smash this target next year.

Darren said the research was vital to determine the correct doses of chemotherapy needed to give youngsters a better chance of winning their battle against the life-threatening disease.

"The money does not last very long and the research is entirely funded by donations, so they

need as much as they can get,"

he added.

"When it is proved how much chemotherapy is needed, this research will be used world-wide."

To donate money to support this potentially ground-breaking work, visit www.amazing amy.co.uk

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