A TEENAGER, who twice survived leukaemia and battled an illness which paralysed her, is looking forward to a bright future after celebrating her 18th birthday.

And Aimee Read, of Moorcroft, Edenfield, has another reason to celebrate. She has just got engaged to boyfriend Kyle Reynolds.

Aimee said: “We went out for a meal on Thursday night before my birthday and he just proposed. I was so happy, I did cry a bit.”

The teenager, who lives with mum Wendy, 39, dad Mark, 45, and brother Jack, 14, was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in 1994 when she was just two years old.

Aimee’s disease returned three years later and the family faced a race against time to find a suitable bone marrow donor.

Then in 2006, Aimee was diagnosed with a severe form of myelitis, a rare inflammatory disease of the spinal cord, which par-alysed her.

“It is strange to turn 18 because I didn’t think I would still be here,” she said.

“We had a party on Saturday and it was really emotional having everyone who has supported me around me, and thinking how lucky I am to be here and how many people love me.

“My mum and dad have been through a lot over the years and they are really proud of me.

“When I was paralysed they told me that I would never walk again, that I would be in a wheelchair.

“I just had to be positive and it was like being a baby again, learning to walk, feed myself and brush my hair.”

The family had another scare two years ago when Aimee suffered a burst appendix.

She said: “Every time I’m ill I panic, we all do, especially my mum”

Aimee, who went to Haslingden High School, wanted to be a nurse but her illnesses left her with a low immune system which means she is highly susceptible to infection.

So she decided to study childcare at Bury College and now Aimee has landed a job as a nursery nurse at Ladybird Nursery in Ramsbottom.

Aimee said: “I am really looking forward to the future.”