Daily Echo story 17 May 2000

Tiny miracle

Battling baby Beth Heaton has beaten off a disease which had threatened to cause a second tragedy in her family. Beth, pictured with big sister Emma, has been given a clean bill of health by doctors at the hospital where she had a life-saving bone marrow transplant last December.

Her parents are overjoyed at the news, which they describe as nothing short of a miracle. Stuart and Karen Heaton, of Totton, are able to make long-term plans for the first time since Beth's illness was diagnosed last summer.

Eight months ago the couple feared their baby would not live to see her first Christmas. Now doctors at Great Ormond Street Hospital, London, are confident that Beth, who recently celebrated her first birthday will grow into a healthy adult and will be able to have children of her own.

Mr Heaton, 35, said: "We've had a tough time over the past few months, but it's all worthwhile when you've got an happy ending." Beth was born with aplastic anaemia, which prevented her tiny body producing new blood cells. She was given only months to live. The news was a devasting blow to her parents, who had already lost a child. Katie Heaton was just eight months old when she died from an unrelated bowel disease on Remembrance Day in 1995. Doctors treating Beth warned that she would also die unless she had a bone marrow transplant.

Emma, eight, immediately made a nationwide appeal that resulted in more than 24,000 potential donors ringing the Anthony Nolan Bone Marrow Trust.

Mr Heaton said: "Beth's new marrow is working absolutely fine and a separate problem with her immune system has also been sorted out. Doctors are amazed at her progress - it's beyond belief that she's got so well so quickly."

Mrs Heaton, 35, said: "The hospital have started to think long term - something they've never been able to do before. I'm so happy inside I'm bursting, but I'm afraid to show it in case something goes wrong."

A Great Ormond Street Hospital spokeman said Beth's rapid progress was because the bone marrow was a perfect match. She added: "In all likelihood she's cured. Beth has a normal blood count and she's been able to come off almost all the major drugs she was taking."

Bone marrow trust spokesman Caroline Child said: "It's fantastic news. It's always hard when you meet a lovely family like the Heatons and see a sick child in desperate need of a transplant. We're always worried that the shortage of suitable donors means we won't be able to help."

The trust's donor hotline is 0901 8822234.