Exactly one year to the day after life-saving brain surgery left her unable to walk or communicate, seven-year-old Lauren Porter has returned home for good.

The brave, smiling youngster even had a farewell party to say goodbye to the team that helped her recover at Bursledon House children's unit of Southampton General Hospital, where she has spent the past 12 months in rehabilitation.

Diagnosed with a brain tumour last year, Lauren needed a vital operation within days if she was to stand a chance against the killer brain tumour.

"It took a long time for doctors to diagnose her, but after giving her a brain scan, they said they would need to operate the next day or she would die," said Lauren's mum, Louise Clewer.

"It was devastating," she said. "The scan showed the tumour to be as big as a tangerine."

Lauren has been treated at Bursledon House since the operation, and from last September she became a daily outpatient, allowing her to spend nights at home with her mum in Valley Park, Chandler's Ford.

Staff at Bursledon House, a unit that specialises in the rehabilitation and care of children and young teenagers with a range of mental and physical conditions, said Lauren had made remarkable progress from when she first arrived.

Senior health care assistant, Sue Vaughan, said: "She's made so much progress, from when she arrived and couldn't even hold her own head up or walk at all. Now she can walk when holding someone's hands or by herself with a walker."

Single mum Louise praised the centre and the help staff had given her.

"I'm very proud of the recovery that Lauren has made. The help she has received from the staff here has been amazing."

Lauren progressed so well that her mum recently took her on a holiday to Disneyland in Florida.

Today Lauren starts at Cedar Special School, Nursling, for children with physical difficulties.