By Aileen Robertson

LITTLE SARA Thackray, the Dunfermline tot battling leukaemia, is set to jet off to America for life-saving treatment at the weekend.

The three-year-old was diagnosed with the disease when she was only months old and has been undergoing chemotherapy treatment for most of her young life.

Sara’s condition cannot be treated in Britain but kindhearted members of the public have raised over £400,000 through an appeal to send her to North Carolina for life-saving bone marrow transplants.

Parents Grant and Lynne have been on an emotional roller coaster for the past three years. They lost their first daughter, Tia, at the age of 20 months to croup. Then months later doctors dropped the bombshell that Sara had leukaemia.

After almost three years of worry and hospital visits the couple have now been given hope of a normal life.

Apart from coming up with the cash, the other condition for Sara being accepted for treatment was that her leukaemia had to be in remission.

Despite Sara having been poorly recently with a lung infection, Grant and Lynne were told this week that she was in remission and are preparing to fly out in the next few days.

However, Sara has to have a final check-up to make sure her immune system is strong enough. Chemotherapy puts strain on the immune system and the air conditioning on the plane could cause an infection. The family are expecting test results today.

The bone marrow treatment will take anything from six months to a year to complete, meaning the Thackrays will have to uproot their lives and work out how to sustain themselves in America.

Grant said, “I just want to get there for the bairn because it’s the bairn’s only chance. We can’t stop to think. We’re excited because it’s going to give her a chance but the odds are still against her.

“The past years have been a mixture of good memories and scary moments. We have both been a bit tense over the past few days and were terrified about hearing her results.

“But when Lynne phoned I knew it was good news by the tone in her voice. It’s the greatest news in the world.”

Grant and Lynne have been so pre-occupied with looking after Sara, they have not had much time to think about what is happening next.

“Social workers, doctors and family are helping us through this,” Grant said. Yvonne Leslie, the driving force in the charity, has been a fantastic help by arranging a hotel for us to stay in until we find an apartment.”

A year ago Lynne gave birth to a healthy boy, Grant junior, described by his father as a “little miracle.”

He said, “I think he was sent to help Sara along. He’s been a wee rock and, although he is so young, has pulled us along.”

Lynne’s sister Rhona will also travel to America to help look after Grant junior. Sara will be treated at the Duke University Medical Centre in Durham, North Carolina.