Four months ago, the tiny ten-month-old tot was diagnosed with a rare and deadly form of liver cancer known as hepatoblastoma, having hardly been able to eat since she was born.

A crisis loomed when the baby's family was told that she needed a liver transplant.

But three weeks ago a scan showed that chemotherapy and blood transfusions she was receiving at Nottingham's Queen's Medical Centre (QMC) had started to work.

This meant that, almost miraculously, the tumour had shrunk to a size where she could have an operation for it to be removed.

And on Tuesday (July 7) she underwent a major operation at Birmingham Children's Hospital.

Amy-Leigh is now in intensive care after the operation, which entailed removing three-quarters of her liver, her appendix and gall bladder, repairing her diaphragm where the tumour had burst through and re-setting her intestines.

The baby's parents are Chris and Ann-Marie Parry, who have three other chldren, Sharnnah (12), Rhiannon (nine) and CJ (two).

"There is now a light at the end of the tunnel," said Chris. He added that the family hoped to be back home in the Papplewick Lane area on Monday July 13.

Chris, a prison officer at Lowdham Grange in Nottinghamshire, has been off work since Amy-Leigh became seriously ill in February.

His colleagues held a football match against a team representing the prisoners yesterday (Thursday) to raise money for toys for the QMC's E38 oncology ward, where Amy-Leigh has been a patient.

Chris said he and his wife were extremely grateful for support they have received throughout the long ordeal.

Amy-Leigh's cancer is thought to be related to Ann-Marie's poliposis coli. This results from mutation of a gene which suppresses the uncontrolled growth of cells that could become cancerous.

Ann-Marie lost her mother from the condition and her sister from hepatoblastoma.

Her brothers also suffer from poliposis coli.

She must undergo an operation for her condition and the couple's other three children need to be tested for it as well.

Chris is full of praise for his wife and says: "She has been my rock through all this."