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Gabriella Ellis, of Woodside Avenue, Holmesfield, was struck down with Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma and left unable to walk.

The Henry Fanshawe school pupil spent nine months in Sheffield Children's Hospital and has had to stay at the city's Northern General Hospital while she waits for her home to be converted.

Now as her parents hope to finalise a nine-month request for council bosses to alter their council property to make it wheelchair friendly, the teenager's grandparents Richard (69) and Sandra Brown (66), are organising an appeal for vital equipment.

Mrs Brown, of Carr Lane, Dronfield Woodhouse, said: "Gabriella can't come home because the house doesn't yet have a wheelchair-friendly downstairs' bedroom or bathroom shower.

"But the council agreed to make alterations and hopefully funding will be in place soon and we're raising money for equipment including a bed and furniture so Gabriella can come home."

The brave youngster had spinal surgery to correct a curvature in May, last year, but four months later she collapsed and lost the use of her legs and was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma.

She has been in hospital ever since.

Her parents Edwin and Carolyn Ellis requested their home to be redeveloped in January but NE Derbyshire District Council and its housing team Rykneld Homes have yet to agree funding.

In the meantime, Gabriella's grandparents are launching their fund-raising campaign with a coffee morning at their home at 145 Carr Lane, on October 15 from 10.30am to 2pm, with entry costing £2.50.

Direction Theatre Arts is considering a fund-raising concert and anyone interested in supporting the campaign can call Mrs Brown on (0114) 2890517.

Gabriella also raised £410 for the children's hospital PACT charity selling teddy-bear shaped badges during her treatment.

A Rykneld Homes spokesman said: "Preliminary drawings have been made for the extension.

"Rykneld Homes is willing to meet part of the cost and is awaiting a decision from Derbyshire County Council's social services to see if they can provide additional funding."