Tributes to brave Bethany

Tributes were paid today to brave two-year-old Bethany Dawson following her death. Bethany, from Cannock, who had a rare condition which saw her born with her bowels outside her body, passed away at Birmingham Children's Hospital on Thursday morning.

Her brave fight received worldwide attention and was followed by more than 150,000 people on social networking site Facebook.

Bethany underwent a 12-hour liver and bowel transplant operation on December 16 last year, followed by numerous further surgical procedures.

On June 15 she was brought home for a birthday celebration with more than 60 guests while in July neighbours in Whinyates Rise, where the Dawsons had just moved, worked together to help get their home ready to cater for the youngster's needs.

Parents Nikki and Tim had fought to increase the number of child organ and blood donors.

Bethany's grandmother Wendy Summer said the family wanted to thank everyone for their support. She said: "Bethany had been very poorly but it was very sudden."

A message posted on Facebook after her death by a Lisa Bevan says: "I prayed Beth, God did I pray, guess there was an angel missing from heaven. Boy are they lucky to have you. I'll miss you lady, I really will, sleep tight my special baby girl xxx."

Birmingham Children's Hospital spokeswoman Karen Stevens said: "Throughout her short life, Bethany went through so much but always had a smile on her face."