THE New Year promises to be a happy one for courageous Kent schoolgirl Charlotte Whale.

Slowly but surely the 12-year-old from the Ashford area is recovering from the mystery disabilities that have crippled her life... thanks to public support for the Kentish Express-backed Help a Whale to Walk appeal.

After raising £17,000, the Christ Church High School pupil flew out to the Dominican Republic in the summer with mother Lori and grandmother Sheila Brench, 71, for painful pioneering stem cell treatment not available in Britain.

Now that treatment is beginning to make a difference and the family is confident that over the next six months her mobility will improve enough to enable her to lead a normal teenage life.

At their Bean Close home, Great Chart, Mrs Whale said: "We want to thank every single person that donated towards changing Charlotte’s quality of life.

"She is making progress with weekly muscle massage sessions. We have seen great progress and the doctor is pleased."

Charlotte was just 14 months old when she was struck down with a mystery virus that baffled British doctors. Within seven weeks she had lost her sight, speech and hearing.

Experts at Guys Hospital baby unit failed to diagnose her illness and told her mother she was likely to die, but the youngster defied the odds to make a slow recovery, regaining her eyesight aged three and then both her speech and hearing.

Following the new treatment, Charlotte can now cross a room without her walking frame and climb the stairs to her bedroom.

Her legs have straightened and her hands and arms improved greatly so that she can now make a cup of tea and do the washing up.

Charlotte said: "This time next year I expect to be able to tell you that I did all my own Christmas shopping without being helped."