Baby Shelby home from Toronto for Christmas at the Janeway

An 18-month-old Gander girl who hasspent most of her life at Toronto's Sick Kids Hospital will be closer to home for Christmas.

• Gander mother praying for Christmas reunion with sick toddler

Shelby Dalleyhas been medivacedto theJanewayChildren'sHospital in St. John's, where she will spend the holidays with her family at her side.

"Overjoyed, happy, feeling blessed," her mother, Pamela Dalley, told CBC Radio'sCentral Morning Show Friday.

"When I knew they were dressing Shelby and getting her ready for the plane, Iknew it was going to happen," said Dalley, who got the good news 24 hours earlier.

The family will be back and forth from Gander to the Janewaybetween now and the first week in January, when Shelby returns to Toronto.

"She has to start her chemo treatments then, one treatment a day for six weeks," said Dalley.

'You got to stay strong'

Shelby was born with a life-threatening liver disease and needed a transplant. Her father was the donor.

The surgery went well, but since then, she's hashad a series of other medical problems, including a buildup of white blood cells that can lead to tumours or damaged organs.

Shelby also needs reconstructive bowel surgery, which Dalley said is tentatively scheduled for May, sothe decision was made to bring her back to Toronto after the Christmas break.

"It's been a long road," saidDalley, her voice cracking.

"There's been a lot of times when we almost lost her."

Thefamily also has a 14-year-old son and a four-year-old daughter, and Dalley said she is trying to stay strong.

"You got to stay strong for Shelby, and for your kids. Youdon't have any other choice, right."

Support from the community has helped. Dalley said people have sent cards and messages, and someone they don't know whodelivered a big gift basket to her home on Thursday.

"I cried and everything, It was just so thoughtful," she said.

"Everyone has been so good to us, and all we can say is thank you so much. It means a lot."