Campaign to fund child's sensory playroom hits £3.2k

A fundraising appeal for a child born with a rare condition that makes her bones brittle has raised more than £3,200.

The GoFundMe campaign for two-year-old Natarlia from Polegate, East Sussex, will fund a soft play padded sensory room.

Natarlia was born in May 2022 with osteogenesis imperfecta. In September she broke her femur which will need surgery.

Her father, Peter, said the sensory room will create an environment "as safe and normal as we can provide for her".

The family said they have been told by Great Ormond Street Hospital that Natarlia is the only person in the world with her particular condition.

Her mother, Nicole, said: "Natarlia will never walk. If she sneezes she could break a bone.

"But she is a superstar. You wouldn't believe she has this condition."

Peter added: "She is a proper joker and has a wicked sense of humour. She's always smiling.

"We know she is incredibly positive and pushes herself more than anyone else does.

"She has the heart of a lion and the soul of a warrior."

It has taken two-and-a-half years to get permission and grants to build an extension to the family home to facilitate her needs.

The total cost has been £140,000.

The family now wants to raise £10,000 for the padded sensory room.

Peter said: "The room will give Natarlia a bit of normality in her world.

"Her life is like no other child's. Everything she does risks breaking a bone."

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