LITTLE Leah Birchall has celebrated the birthday doctors feared she would never see. The Bolton schoolgirl's parents were told their daughter was just two weeks from death when a routine eye test revealed a massive brain tumour rooted in the back of her head.

Surgeons at the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital saved Leah's life by cutting out the cancerous growth but unavoidable brain damage during the operation left the youngster blind, paralysed and unable to talk.

Specialists warned Leah's parents, Wendy and Alan Birchall, of Southleigh Drive, Breightmet, that the disabilities could be permanent.

But, as reported in last week's BEN, little Leah battled back to beat her tumour AND recover her sight, speech and ability to walk.

Yesterday, as she celebrated her sixth birthday by blowing out six candles on her cake, mum Wendy said: "Leah's been so brave and she's getting stronger with every day."

The Blackshaw Primary School pupil and friends were also treated to free burgers at McDonalds in Waters Meeting Road, Bolton, after the fast food chain read of her bravery in the BEN.

And little Leah is set for another present later this month when she jets out to Lapland to meet Santa with mum Wendy, courtesy of children's charity Wish-Upon-A-Star.

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