LEUKAEMIA fighter Micky Bennett is finally home after officially ringing the hospital bell to signify being illness-free.

The Echo reported in November the 11-year-old was cancer-free after a blood test revealed the illness had gone. However, things weren’t so straight forward.

As a result of the aggressive nature of Micky’s cancer, and the high chance of relapse, he still urgently needed a stem cell donor to ensure it wouldn’t return.

The Anthony Nolan Trust continued its appeal for a stem-cell donor but was unsuccessful in finding a match. But doctors eventually found two donors who were a match – but unfortunately they were based in Brazil and Germany.

Micky’s mum, Lisa Hicks, said: “People don’t want to fly out to another country to leave their families, especially over Christmas. Micky’s dad and sisters were then tested to see if they could be donors and his dad was only a 50 per cent match, but it was decided to go ahead and use Dave [Micky’s dad] as a donor.

“The transplant went ahead on November 27 and we were later told it hadn’t been successful. Micky was given Cyclophosphomaide and steroids to dampen down his immune system.

“We were so down, it was just another knock back.”

In another almighty blow to Micky and his family, he was forced to stay at Great Ormond Street Hospital in isolation for a total of 60 days, which spanned over Christmas.

Lisa added: “It was the worst Christmas ever but throughout it all Micky was so strong and even launched a fundraiser appealing for Christmas gifts to be sent into the hospital for the other children on the ward and got a massive response – £5,000 worth of presents were donated.

“He didn’t want anything for himself but, being one of the older children there, it was a focus for him to take some of the younger children under his wing.

“He has taken everything in his stride and just got on with it, then to our amazement we learnt that he had in fact engrafted his dad’s cells and was on the road to recovery.”

The young hero then rang the bell to freedom on early this month and was able to go home – and in style. Lisa and Dave arranged a hummer limo to take them back home.

However, the journey is still not over for Micky and the regular trips to hospital for treatment will still continue at GOSH and Queen’s Hospital in Romford for up to three years.

Micky will still not be able to go back to school for at least another year and is not allowed in crowded places, for risk of infection. With how low his immune system currently still is, an infection could be fatal.

Lisa has praised the overwhelming support Micky and family have received from the community and charities.

She added: “What we’ve seen and learnt on this journey has changed us – we’ve learned a lot, and met so many people and friends along the way.”

“I want to thank Lennox Children’s Cancer Fund for their amazing support from the beginning, from always being there for a chat and a coffee when I needed, to arranging for us all to go away soon and stay in a log cabin. They are so hands on, just brilliant.

“It takes two people to make a child but takes a community to raise that child. If it wasn’t for the love and support we’ve had from everybody I wouldn’t have coped - I would have keeled over a long time ago.”