The mother of York miracle baby Aimee Fowler spoke today of her gratitude to the family who gave her little girl the gift of life.

Aimee received a new liver when a single transplant organ was divided between her and an adult patient - the first time the rare operation had been carried out at St James' Hospital in Leeds.

Now back at home in York with parents John, 31, and Caroline, 29, Aimee - who will be nine months old on Wednesday - is making good progress, after also having an operation to replace her bowel duct.

Her mother said: "She's doing really well. It's great to see her back to what we think is a normal baby."

Caroline said one of her former symptoms was itching and they had to put mittens on her to stop her scratching.

"She looked like she had been done over by Mike Tyson," added Caroline. But now Aimee was busy picking up manual skills, and a play specialist had told them she should catch up with other children.

Caroline said Aimee would have to be on medication for the rest of her life, and was currently in isolation at their home in Lister Court, off Howe Hill Road, Holgate.

Aimee was born two weeks prematurely and had to spend four weeks in special care, though this was not linked to her liver problem.

In the summer, tests revealed that condition and she was referred to Leeds. Her parents were told they might wait up to three months, but were only on the list three or four weeks before the operation.

Caroline thanked the parents of the 29-year-old woman from the Manchester area who was the liver donor, particularly for deciding over the Christmas period to allow it to be used.

"I hope they associated the story (of Aimee's operation) with their daughter, and realised what they managed to achieve," Caroline added.

She also thanked the "fantastic" hospital team, fellow members of St Paul's Church in Holgate who prayed for Aimee, and the couple's employers at York's Mount Royale Hotel for giving John time off.

Updated: 14:18 Monday, January 22, 2001