FIve-year-old Millie Moody spent the first seven months of her life in hospital after doctors discovered she had Downs Syndrome as well as severe eye and heart problems.

Her mum, Gail, faced an anxious wait to see if her daughter would make it through being ferried between Peterborough District Hospital and Great Ormond Street Hospital in London for treatment.

Millie was born with bilateral cataracts and nystagmus, a condition that causes involuntary eye movement and had a serious operation just a month after birth.

Despite these procedures, Millie has very little sight.

Her mum was overjoyed when she was finally able to take Millie back to Stamford but when Millie was three her behaviour started to change and she became withdrawn.

Doctors found Millie was 70 per cent deaf.

A year ago Millie and her mum started getting support from Sense, a charity committed to helping children who are deafblind, which, this year, chose the chirpy youngster as its Christmas appeal face.

Millie's mum said: "She is quite an amazing child and I am so very proud of her.

"She is very happy and loves to play around the house as well as with her school and Rainbow friends.

"However, the first seven months of her life were a real rollercoaster journey because doctor's said there was a chance she wouldn't survive."

Mrs Moody (48) said Millie finds it hard to deal with change, so this year her birthday, which falls on December 22, and Christmas, would be very sedate affairs.

She added: "She doesn't like it when the furniture gets moved around so I won't be having a big tree, as much as I love Christmas myself.

"It all depends on how she feels on the day. Of course I will be putting out a mince pie for Santa, and if she gets some presents in her stocking then we will open them when she is ready.

"Millie finds it hard to deal with emotion, so when everyone at her school is really excited and the lessons change a bit she gets anxious and agitated."

Millies normally uses a wheelchair when she goes shopping with her mum, but she likes to be out of the chair at school, so she can play with her Bluecoat Primary friends.

Mrs Moody added: "She is also really creative, but when things get on top of her she goes to her little den until she feels ready to come out again.

"She has problems watching television, but she loves children's programmes which have lots of music and Strictly Come Dancing. She throws herself around the room when that's on."

Millie is doted on her by her neighbours, and she has lots of family who live in Bourne and come to visit her.

Mrs Moody takes each day at a time, and doesn't think about the future too much, saying "I just want her to be happy and fulfil whatever potential she has. I want her to be accepted as part of society and make the most of her life."

For more information, on Sense, visit www.sense.org