MYLEISHA Hussain has just celebrated her third birthday - and her parents hope her future is brighter, after a nightmare year of devastating illness.

Last February Kamal and Layla Hussain could only watch as their daughter's development and health slowed and worsened as she struggled in the grip of devastating and debilitating illness.

A diagnosis of leukaemia in November 2006 had been followed by internal bleeding and meningitis, and a series of seizures were about to make her so ill doctors warned the couple, from Oakley Street, Newport, to expect the worst.

But expert care, allied to a huge will to live, kickstarted a gradual recovery and though Myleisha is blind and requires regular therapy at Newport's Eveswell Clinic, she has completed a heavy course of chemotherapy for the leukaemia and is currently on a maintenance treatment programme that will last until next January.

She is also showing encouraging signs of development again.

When the Argus first featured her last September, Mr and Mrs Hussain were just getting used to having her back home for a sustained period after months in and out of hospital.

Now Myleisha's delighted giggles at hearing familiar songs and nursery rhymes are testament to how far she has come and Mrs Hussain is aiming to get her into a nursery next September.

"Our families had a lovely big party for her third birthday," she said.

"This time last year we could see her slowing down, saying less, then she had the seizures, which were awful.

"It was a very long, hard road back for her but she defied all the predictions. She's been through the intense chemotherapy now and she's coming along so well.

"We don't know what the future will hold, how much she will be capable of, but nursery will be great because new surroundings, people and other children in particular can only help stimulate her."