A brave Ellesmere Port schoolgirl is ready to save her older sister's life as she prepares for a major operation.
Ellie Butler has made an incredibly brave decision to save 11-year-old Demi Butler's life by donating her bone marrow.
Demi was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia in August.
She was told she requires a bone marrow transplant as soon as possible for the best chance of survival.
Her inspirational younger sister, who is only eight-years-old, is a match and is prepared to do all she can to help save her life.
Demi was admitted to the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital last week where she began chemotherapy treatment ahead of the transplant on Thursday.
Ellie will join her sister at the hospital tomorrow (Wednesday) where she will undergo an hour long operation the following day which will involve taking healthy bone marrow from her tissue to be transferred into Demi’s body.
Once the bone marrow has been taken from Ellie’s body, she will watch her older sister receive the life-saving cells less than two hours later.
Their uncle Darren Butler said Ellie is beginning to feel anxious ahead of the operation.
"She is feeling really scared but taking her to see Demi in hospital has put her at ease.
“The cells will be taken to the lab straight away where they will be formulated and given to Demi about 90 minutes later.
“Ellie will be allowed into the room to watch the cells being transferred to Demi which she’s really excited about.
“I think we’re all feeling really nervous but we’re really excited for her to get better.
“We’re so proud of her - without Ellie, there’s no Demi.”
As Ellie is a sibling donor, Darren explained the chances of Demi accepting the transplant is much greater.
He said: “There can be a lot of complications with bone marrow donations, but with this being a sibling donor, doctors don’t have as many concerns.
“She has been really poorly since Monday but the chemotherapy has gone as well as it could have done so we are all just hoping and praying she accepts the bone marrow.
“It would be absolutely amazing - I can’t even put into words how we would feel.
“We have a rollercoaster of emotions ahead of us now for the next few weeks.”
Demi will be placed in isolation with her grandmother, Nan Anna, on Thursday for almost two months while the healthy cells are transferred into her body.
She is hoping to return home on December 18 in time for Christmas.
Darren added: “We would like to thank Julie Halliwell for organising a school reunion for the class of 1979 from Stanney Comprehensive on Saturday at the Brook Meadow Hotel which raised £180 for the girls.”
