A TINY Hampshire baby has been thrown a lifeline after a nationwide search to find a bone marrow donor.

The plight of little Beth Heaton, who suffers from a rare blood disorder, touched the hearts of thousands after an appeal for help to save her life was made in the Daily Echo.

Now, a match has been found for five-month-old Beth, who may die without the transplant.

The match was found from the 15,000 people who contacted the Anthony Nolan Bone Marrow Trust after the appeal.

Beth's dad Stuart today said he was delighted to hear the news his family had been so desperately waiting for.

Speaking from the family's Totton home, he said: "The whole family was in a state of shock and I still can't believe it.

"It's scary because it's the start of a long journey for Beth. This is the first rung of the ladder.

"There's a 50 per cent chance that the operation will be a success. I'm remaining optimistic as it's better than the zero chance which it would have been if the donor had not been found." Seven-year-old Emma Heaton, who previously made a touching public plea to help save her sister's life on BBC's City Hospital programme, filmed at Southampton General, was brought to tears when she heard the news.

Emma, who has already lost one sister, eight-month-old Katie, who died from a bowel complaint, immediately wrote a letter of thanks.

She was due to read the letter out at the hospital this morning on the programme.

Addressed to all those who came forward after the appeal, it reads: "When mummy and daddy told me that they had found a match I cried. They were happy tears.

"I was so pleased God had listened to my letter. Now Beth and I have a chance to be together.

"I thank you all from the bottom of my heart." Beth will continue to receive treatment at the hospital until she is completely clear of any infection before going to London's Great Ormond Street hospital for the operation itself, some time next month.

But Stuart and his wife Karen, of Testbourne Close, were keen for the appeal for donors to continue.

He added: "The message we want to put across is that this happened because of the people on the register.

"We don't want people to walk away now - we are just one of many."

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