Controversy surrounds radical use of animal

tumours in her right eye to save her sight and life.

“Our first priority was that our lovely Ellie was saved.”

With surgery behind her, attention has now turned to making life as normal as possible for Ellie, who loves nothing better than playing with her dolls and her big brother Alex, four, whom she dotes on.

“I had seen artificial eyes on people and always thought they were obvious,” added dad Alex.

“At the back of my mind I feared she would be bullied but we would cope with that as she grew older.

“When doctors told me of the amazing coral implants that moved with the eye we were delighted.”

Ellie has already undergone surgery to anchor a base of the coral implant to the back of her eye. She is now in the process of having the front part fitted in a series of procedures.

Like any caring parents, Alex and wife Corry, 37, wanted to wrap their arms around their daughter to help her cope. BIOSCIENCE is a fast-moving and exciting field which is reaping dividends for patients.

Scientists are increasingly turning to the natural world for cures and radical new forms of treatment.

One area where consultants expect to see massive progress over the next 20 years is in the use of animal organs in humans. At present pigs’

But Alex added: “We are totally amazed by her bravery throughout it all.”

“We thought she would be massively distressed but she’s taken it in her stride,” added her mum. heart valves are being used to extend the lives of seriously ill patients.

And just last month, it was revealed scientists have successfully grown human organs inside pigs. The step could solve a world organ donor crisis, according to those in favour. However critics fear the move is ethically dangerous.