THE family of a little girl left paralysed by a tumour are determined to have the best Christmas ever.

Katie Dodd, aged four, is still in the middle of treatment for the cancerous tumour, found on her spine, which left her unable to walk.

But even though the Farnworth youngster is now in the fifth out of 14 rounds of chemotherapy, she is still excited, like other children, about Christmas Day next week.

Mum Rebecca, of Seathwaite Road, said: “Katie has always been so upbeat and smiley, but she’s definitely getting more tired as she gets further into the chemotherapy.

“But she’s getting through it and we’re going to try to enjoy Christmas as much as we can. Katie is due to go for her seventh chemotherapy cycle on Christmas Day, so we’re going to have our big dinner on Christmas Eve. I just want to spend as much time as I can playing with Katie and her brother Joseph on the day.”

After the devastating news in September that Katie may not walk again, Mrs Dodd and husband Lee, were told their little girl would need the most advanced form of radiotherapy, known as proton beam therapy.

The treatment is only available in the USA, but Katie’s case was so serious that an NHS ethics board said funding would be provided for her treatment.

Mr and Mrs Dodd are due to take Katie to the US with her eight-yearold brother at the end of January when Katie has finished her chemotherapy and had surgery on her spine.

The family will have to stay for eight to 10 weeks, which means Mr and Mrs Dodd taking unpaid leave from their jobs.

They started the Katie Dodd Appeal to raise £10,000, which will allow them to adapt their house for her new wheelchair. So far they have raised more than £6,000.

The couple have organised a children’s Christmas party which will take place at 1pm until 3.30pm tomorrow at the Masonic Hall in Farnworth.

For information or to buy a ticket, go to katiedoddappeal.co.uk