LITTLE Holly Carpenter is critically ill and will die unless she has a bone marrow transplant.

Two-year-old Holly who lives at Helmshore with her parents Brian and Emily suffers from the rare Severe Combined Immune Deficiency which only affects about 30 babies in Britain each year.

She is now in intensive care clinging to life in Liverpool's Alder Hey Children's Hospital with her parents and grandmother, Judith Rook of Dean Road, Flax Moss, Haslingden, at her cotside.

Her lack of immunity means that even a common cold could kill and for much of her short life she has been in hospital or living in semi isolation at her grandparents' home.

After she received a bone marrow transplant donated by her soldier dad, she showed improvement and some months ago moved into a new home with her parents in Helmshore.

Grandad, Barry, said: "She went back to Alder Hey a week last Wednesday after suddenly becoming very lethargic just wanting to lie down and sleep. "Within hours she was in intensive care. It is so sad to see her, so helpless and stuffed full of tubes. It is just terrible to see her like that.

"But she is a brave little fighter and if she pulls through this hiccup then she will need a bone marrow transplant and the sooner the better.

"It is a life and death battle she is fighting at the moment but if anyone can pull through given a chance Holly can.''

Holly's condition is so bad that her parents cannot even hug or touch her because of the risk of infection.

She is under sedation and has now even been able to see her family at the hospital cotside.

Brian and Emily are appealing for people to be tested to see if their bone marrow is compatible. "It is her last chance'' said Brian whose own match was not exact and sadly did not work.

Anyone between 18 and 40 can register with the Antony Nolan Bone Marrow Trust by calling 0990-111533 or can get more information on 01423-879510.

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