PROUD mum Karen Gaynor has praised the bravery of her daughter Aimee, aged three, who has been battling leukaemia for the past 13 months.

Aimee, of Tyldesley, was diagnosed with the illness last year, and has spent every week since then attending hospital appointments and receiving chemotherapy.

She lost her ability to walk and her curly blond hair, and has undergone countless scans after suffering seizures and painful reactions to treatment.

But Mrs Gaynor says the courageous toddler, whom she calls "my little whirlwind", is rarely without a smile on her face.

"Aimee is a true fighter," she said. "She's not as active as she was, but she sings and dances at every opportunity.

"She loves the limelight and she's a real little poser. She loves being dressed up like a film star.

"She's fighting adversity so hard and still smiling."

Aimee, who lives with her mum, dad Christopher and sister Charlotte, aged 11, was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in August, 2005.

The couple had taken her to their GP after noticing that the youngster was becoming increasingly pale and walking with a limp.

Within days, she was receiving chemotherapy through a puncture in her spine at Royal Manchester Children's Hospital, Pendlebury.

Aimee still attends hospital each week, but is slowly beginning to walk again and her hair is starting to grow back.

Although she had to give up playgroup sessions, the family already has her name down to start school next September.

Mrs Gaynor said: "The way Aimee has faced this illness, she can face anything. She is showing promising signs of recovery.

"She enjoys everything despite being in pain a lot of the time, and I can't praise the help that the hospital has given her enough. Aimee has an amazing spirit which really makes you look at life differently."