The family of a little girl who has been receiving treatment in the UK since March are calling on the public to help them keep up with the costs.

Born on September 3, 2001, Kirsty Abela started getting feverish when she was only a few days old. Parents Gloria and Omar took her to casualty where she was given antibiotics and kept in hospital until she was operated upon a week later.

The operation seemed to have improved Kirsty's condition: the little girl was discharged and her parents were asked to take her to hospital daily for treatment.

But on their way from hospital the baby again got feverish and the family did not even make it home before returning.

When Kirsty was a month old she was taken to Great Ormond Hospital, in London for tests which established that she required a bone marrow transplant as she suffered from an immunodeficiency disorder.

Tests were held on her mother, father and five-year-old sister, Nirvana, then three, to see whether they matched but it was found they could not provide the marrow.

So Kirsty's name went on the hospital's waiting list until a possible match could be found and the family returned to Malta.

The girl was finally called to go for the transplant in June last year after a match was found. However, she caught chicken pox and the operation could not be carried out because her system was too weak.

She was called up again in March and Kirsty left for the UK with her father on the 18th.

The family decided that the mother should keep her job as a nursing aid at Mount Carmel Hospital while her father gave up his own job to be with the child.

Kirsty was admitted to the hospital on March 27 and the operation was carried out on April 9. Kirsty was discharged on June 6 but remains in London with her father for regular hospital treatment.

The toddler now seems to be getting better and the family are very anxious to get together - as soon as Great Ormond gives the go ahead.

Mrs Abela speaks to her daughter on the phone every day and Nirvana says she misses her sister dearly.

Mrs Abela said her husband's current accommodation was provided for by Great Ormond Hospital and throughout the child's treatment the family was given a total of Lm200 from the Community Chest Fund towards two air tickets.

Anyone wishing to help the family may contact The Times newsroom on 2122 4483.