LEUKAEMIA sufferer Elizabeth Morris will spend Christmas at home before undergoing a life-saving bone marrow transplant.

The operation on the courageous five-year-old is now likely to be carried out early in the new year, allowing her to be with her family over the festive period.

An exhaustive search for a bone marrow match was successful in September, when an anonymous donor came forward.

Elizabeth's condition does make her susceptible to infection, which led to her most recent setback.

She is now back at her home in Hollow Meadow, Ringley, Radcliffe, after a two-week spell in Royal Manchester Children's Hospital, at Pendlebury. She had picked up a viral infection because of her low blood count.

Mother Janet said: "It was a long stay for Elizabeth this time. She was a little bit fed-up, but is feeling very high-spirited to be back at home.

"It is difficult to prevent Elizabeth from picking up these minor infections, but she is better now.

"While we wanted to have the transplant done quickly, if we had a date set now, then Elizabeth would definitely still be in hospital for Christmas which wouldn't be very nice."

She added: "It was a relief when we realised the operation would be in the new year.

We have nothing special planned, just a Christmas spent with the family."

The family is continuing to campaign for more donors to join the Anthony Nolan Bone Marrow Register, so other children can also be given the chance to live a full life.