SHAKIRA Day spent Christmas Day playing with her new Baby Annabell doll and pram and 'cooking' in her play kitchen.

It was a day the four-year-old's parents Stuart and Deanna, both 37, of West Green Avenue, West Green, thought they may never see. In May Shakira was diagnosed with a rare form of liver cancer, which affects just eight children in the UK every year, in May and underwent gruelling chemotherapy treatment.

"When she was taken to Jimmy's we realised we were on the cancer ward and it really hit home, that was just devastating," said Dinah. But on December 4 Shakira and Stuart underwent a pioneering 12-hour operation in which Stuart donated part of his liver to his daughter.

The pair were the first live adult to child transplant to be carried out at St James' Hospital, Leeds, which was only carried after two heartbreaking stints on a waiting list failed to find a liver donor for the youngster.

She was allowed home last Friday in time to enjoy a family Christmas. Dinah said: "It was fantastic to be home for Christmas and just to sleep in our own beds. "On Christmas Day she played with her presents from the moment she opened them in the morning until 10.30pm when we said 'Shakira we need to go to sleep', she was running around all day."

For the next year Shakira will have to go to Jimmy's for twice weekly check ups and take regular medication but the family are hopeful she will make a full recovery.