Pioneering treatment saved little Ella Salter, according to mum Donna, and despite suffering from cystic fibrosis, she is now a bubbly pupil at Caedmon School.

Ella lives with her mum, dad Bruce and step brother Scott in Whitby's Raglan Terrace.

And her family has entered the Science: (So what? So everything] competition which celebrates life-changing stories of how science has changed lives.

If brave Ella wins she will become the face of living science.

Mrs Salter (43) said: "Ella was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis and spent seven months in hospital.

"At four months old, her airways kept shutting down, and doctors didn't know what was causing it.

"She was given emergency ventilation at least eight times.

"The doctors decided to try Continuous Positive Airway Pressure, which had only ever been used on adult patients before, and Ella was one of the first babies to receive the treatment.

"Without the treatment, I don't think Ella would be here today.

"At first the treatment was 24 hours a day, but as her lungs grew stronger, she was able to receive it only at night, allowing her to come home for the first time."

Ella spent a year in hospital in Leeds after being diagnosed at three months in 1998, she was born weighing 7lb 3oz but dropped to just 6lb.

When she stopped breathing she was rushed to intensive care and the treatment pioneered on Ella has since been successfully used on hundreds of children.

Ella celebrated her first birthday in hospital.

Bruce (45) had to give up his job as a trawlerman but now works as a scaffolders' labourer at Wilton.

The couple have nothing but praise for consultant Keith Brownlee in St James' Hospital, Leeds.

Mr Salter, who helps with her daily physio, said: "It was very traumatic, we were told more than once that she might die.

"She now takes around 50 tablets a day, has physio and still goes to hospital at Leeds every four weeks.

"She is now so fit and healthy, she even plays a kazoo for the Whitby Jets."

Mrs Salter added: "A lot of the staff have been involved in her care since day one and say they can't believe how she is now just like any normal 11-year-old.

"We have been very upset and traumatised but she has amazed us.

"The doctors and nurses told us they used to have sleepless nights worrying about her.

"She knows them all by their first names."

If the family wins the competition they will win Canon camera equipment worth £1,150 and a photography course.

The campaign is looking for real life stories and photographs, which illustrate how science keeps us in good health.