TWO years ago little Rhys Smith was diagnosed with leukaemia on Christmas Eve and was too poorly to even open his presents.

But now the three-year-old can’t wait for his first proper Christmas at home.

And yesterday his Christmas was made even more special thanks to a festive visit from military personnel based at RAF Benson near Wallingford.

Five personnel from 230 Squadron visited Oxford Children’s Hospital with Santa to wish Rhys and his fellow patients a Merry Christmas and give them each a present.

They greeted youngsters across the children’s hospital wards.

Rhys is now fighting back to fitness but his mum Letitia Smith said she was hugely thankful he was looking forward to Christmas at all.

Miss Smith, from Thame, said: “I’m really excited. This will be his first proper Christmas at home.

“He is doing well now but two years ago he was too ill to even open his presents.

“He ended up having so many presents that it took him until his birthday in March to open all of them.

“Before he was so little he didn’t understand, but this year we are going to have an amazing Christmas.”

The toddler was taken to accident and emergency at the John Radcliffe after screaming in pain throughout Christmas Eve.

Doctors originally thought Rhys might have meningitis but tests showed he had the blood and bone marrow cancer leukaemia.

After two years of chemotherapy at the hospital, Rhys is now a happier boy who is making progress.

Miss Smith added: “Last year over Christmas he was ill again and we were in and out of hospital. The doctors warned us we might have to stay in hospital on Christmas Day. But he has been doing so well this year, we are really looking forward to Christmas.”

She added: “I really don’t think we would have coped without the staff here at the hospital. They have been brilliant.

“The two years Rhys has been ill have gone really fast. He is finally the right weight for his age now, which has been a battle.

“He has 16 months left of chemo so it is the year countdown in a few months.”

The Benson personnel chose and bought about 80 Christmas presents themselves for sick youngsters at the Children’s Hospital.

Flt Lt Tim Stringer, who helped Santa hand out the gifts yesterday, said: “For the past few days we have been wrapping presents on the squadron floor.

“It has been fun, like a little Santa’s workshop.

“There were so many volunteers to come down to the hospital and hand them out that we had to pick out of a hat for it.”

Senior play specialist at the children’s hospital, Christine Turner, said: “It is lovely to welcome some of the squadron here on the wards for a bit of festive cheer.

“The children have really enjoyed it.

“We try to get as many of them home for Christmas but it is two weeks away so you can never tell what is going to happen.”