The 12-year-old was first diagnosed with the illness in 2005.

Chemotherapy complications damaged her heart and caused near-fatal consequences for the battler. After a series of alternative treatments, she was finally released from the Royal Children's Hospital in July, 2006.

In 2008, the cancer returned and Patty underwent bone marrow transplant operations, using marrow from her sister.

She went home and was healthy for 11 months and one week before the leukaemia returned in September.

Last week, Patty sounded in good spirits, but her father, Ron, described the past four months as the most harrowing in the youngster's life.

"She had a mental breakdown and was saying she didn't want to live any more," Mr Carlyon said. "The doctors said she would die in eight weeks, but she battled through - we used a new strategy of treatment."

Patty continues to undergo chemotherapy and has 100per cent donor cells in her marrow - a good sign for the future.

"She's as close to being cured as she's ever been," Mr Carlyon said.

■A fundraiser to pay for Patty's travel and medical expenses will be held from 8am-noon on January 23 outside Jansen Meats, Brook Street, Sunbury.