Bethany's new home done up in just a day

A family in Cannock have expressed their heartfelt thanks to neighbours and local companies after an army of helpers prepared their new home ready for their seriously ill daughter in just one day.

Bethany Dawson, who was given just three months to live last year, could come home from Birmingham Children's Hospital for the first time in eight months. The two-year-old received a life-saving bowel and liver organ transplant last December, but has suffered numerous setbacks and complications.

Her parents Nikki and Tim Dawson were facing a tough time to get their new house ready for Bethany as dad Tim had been forced to take four months off work without pay.

Ten neighbours, plus staff from Waterloo Housing Association, volunteered to help Bethany's parents get the house ready.

Ann Langston, aged 27, paid for new flooring and helped organise generous discounts from local businesses.

Floors-to-Go, on the A5, gave a 25 per cent discount on new laminate flooring while carpet firm CRS Carpets, in Walsall Road, Cannock, gave the couple £800-worth of carpet for £125.

Nikki Dawson said today the house was almost complete thanks to people's generosity.

"Everyone worked really hard and we are really grateful. They have all been fantastic.

"Hopefully, Bethany can come home this weekend."

Bethany was born with a rare condition, gastro-schisis, with her bowels on the outside of her body.

Her story has received worldwide attention and is being followed by more than 150,000 people on social networking site Facebook.