Youngster dies after US brain op

Bobbie suffered from Batten's disease from the age of two

An eight-year-old girl who went to the US for a pioneering brain operation has died at her home in Nottinghamshire.

Bobbie Shone, from Worksop, suffered from Batten's disease - a rare genetic brain disorder - causing her to degenerate physically and mentally.

Her sister Danni also suffers from the same condition and is still awaiting the treatment.

Mark and Georgina Shone raised £160,000 for Bobbie's surgery in New York last month, but she died on Tuesday.

Missing enzyme

Bobbie had suffered from Batten's disease from the age of two, causing her brain to degenerate and leaving her unable to walk or talk.

The operation involved drilling tiny holes into Bobbie's head and injecting an enzyme missing from Batten's disease patients into her brain, in the hope of kick-starting the brain into producing the enzyme itself.

The trial was put back several times because experts were not ready to carry out the procedure.

Just before they left for New York in October the Shones were told only one of their daughters could have the treatment, because of complex American heath rules.

'Really special day'

When they arrived in the US, they persuaded the authorities to allow Danni to have the procedure - although she has not yet had the treatment.

After Bobbie had the surgery, complications set in and she was brought back to Britain for further treatment at Sheffield Children's Hospital, before being discharged.

The Shone family issued a statement on Thursday, saying "Bobbie... died peacefully at home on Tuesday after having a really special day".

Her funeral will take place on Monday.