IT'S the picture her parents thought they would never see.

A Hampshire girl who almost died when she was a baby is about to celebrate another milestone in her remarkable recovery.

Four-year-old Beth Heaton has gone from strength to strength since a bone marrow transplant and is due to start school on Monday.

Watching her walk through the gates of Lydlynch Infant School, Totton, will be an emotional moment for her parents, Stuart and Karen.

Mr Heaton, of Totton, said: "Beth is continuing to amaze us all with her progress.

"We're very proud of her and her first day at school promises to bring a tear to everyone who has watched her grow up.

"Sending their child to school is a normal event for most families.

"But for Karen and I that day seemed imp-ossible four years ago, when Beth was

terminally ill and no donor could be found.

"It still gives me goose bumps when I remember how close we came to losing her."

Beth was born with aplastic anaemia, which prevented her body from producing new blood cells, and doctors said she would die within months without a bone marrow transplant.

Her older sister Emma, now 11, made a

moving appeal that resulted in thousands of potential donors contacting the Anthony Nolan Bone Marrow Trust.

Mr and Mrs Heaton went through an agonising six-week wait until a perfect match was found.

Ironically, the donor turned out to be someone who was already on the trust's register - computer expert Mark Bewick, now 26, of Peterbrough.

Beth underwent her life-saving transplant at the world-famous Great Ormond Street Hospital, London, in December 1999 and began to make rapid progress.

Mr Heaton said Beth was looking forward to starting school.

He added: "Until recently she wanted to stay home with mum but changed her mind after receiving a visit from two of the teachers.

"The other day she rushed upstairs and put her school uniform on, which must be a good sign."