A TEENAGER who spent years battling cancer is fighting for her life once again after contracting a rare virus.

Thirteen-year-old Aimee Read of Moorcroft, Edenfield, was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in 1994 at just two-years-old.

She was eventually given the all-clear just two years ago and has since been enjoying life like any other youngster.

But four weeks ago Aimee was admitted to Fairfield Hospital for three days suffering from a viral infection.

Two days after being discharged, Aimee collapsed at home, and when she awoke next morning she was barely conscious and completely paralysed.

She returned to Fairfield and was transferred to the intensive care unit at Royal Manchester Children's Hospital where she was diagnosed with a severe form of myelitis, a rare inflammatory disease of the spinal cord. It is often caused by a viral infection which makes the immune system malfunction and attack the body.

The condition has caused Aimee's spinal cord and brain to swell, leaving her immobile and very ill.

She is now being treated on a neuro rehabilitation ward, though her future remains uncertain.

Doctors hope Aimee's paralysis is temporary, but it may take months of rehabilitation to find out if she will make a full recovery.

Aimee's mother, Wendy, who has been by her daughter's bedside throughout her illness, said: "All this came about from her having flu at Christmas. Anyone can get this at any time, but we think that Aimee having leukaemia in the past may be a factor, as her immune system may not have been strong enough to fight this off.

"This latest cruel blow has devastated family and friends, and although Aimee seems to be dealing with things at the moment, there have been a lot of tears. She is very scared and has been feeling down. She is missing being at home, school and spending time with her friends, living what was a normal life four weeks ago.

"We have been told by the doctors that we have to take things day by day and that they cannot predict how Aimee is going to be at the end of this, but we know Aimee is a fighter. She has beaten cancer twice before and we are trying to keep her positive and focused on her rehabilitation."

Aimee underwent two years of treatment when first diagnosed with leukaemia but six months later she relapsed and her family was told she only had a 20 per cent chance of survival unless she had a bone marrow transplant.

Several months of searching through 300,000 blood samples failed to find a suitable donor and doctors said she had just 12 months to live.

Wendy turned to the Bury Times for help and more than 500 readers responded to an appeal to find a donor. Nine months later, a matching donor was found, and Aimee underwent a transplant in 1998.

Anyone who would like to wish Aimee well can send cards and letters to Aimee Read, Ashby Ward, Royal Manchester Children's Hospital, Hospital Road, Pendlebury, Manchester, M27 4HA.