A WORCESTER toddler who was flown by emergency air ambulance to a London hospital after contracting meningococcal meningitis is preparing to celebrate the second birthday her relatives thought she might never see.

Georgia Bryan spent four days in intensive care at St Guy's and St Thomas' hospital in the capital last November receiving emergency treatment for the deadly infection.

Over the past six months she has been regularly monitored and has been back to hospital twice for a viral rash but is now back on her feet and bright and bubbly as ever.

Now mum Claire Tippin, of Malvern Road, St John's, Worcester, said they would be holding a big party for the lively toddler on Wednesday, July 19, to mark her second birthday.

Speaking to the Worcester News, she and grandad Roy Tippin heaped praise on the County Air Ambulance crew and nurses and doctors who helped her back to recovery.

Miss Tippin said: "It's amazing how she is now and I'm really thankful to all of those who helped us at the time because without them I'm sure she wouldn't be with us now.

"When I first got to hospital when she was taken in it was terrifying because she was heavily sedated and it looked like she had black eyes because of that and she couldn't speak.

"Now I'm a bit jumpy when she has a cold because that was what the symptoms were to begin with. However they've said it's a one in a million chance she'll get it again so I'm quite relieved by that."

The family has raised more than £400 for the County Air Ambulance through various fund-raising events in the past few months as a way of thanking them for their live-saving actions.

Grandad Mr Tippin, of May Avenue, Tolladine, Worcester, said: "It's really a dream come true that she is still with us today - the care she had from the doctors and nurses was amazing."

Georgie's condition was so serious at the time she could not stay at Worcestershire Royal Hospital as it has no intensive care children's ward.

Grandfather Roy praised medics at the time but hit out at the system which meant his daughter had to travel 120 miles to be with her child.