Girl, 4, determined to walk against all odds

Bella was just two years old when doctors diagnosed her with cerebral palsy, but today she is a happy and bright girl.

Now aged four, the Ipswich youngster is still unable to walk unaided, but she tells her mother she is determined to one day overcome that challenge.

Lizzy, 41, along with her husband Ben, 43, are now fundraising to help with Bella's physiotherapy.

They have already raised more than £2,000, which Lizzy says is "heartwarming".

Bella was born premature at 30 weeks, weighing just 2lbs 4oz (1.02kg).

She was in intensive care for six weeks where doctors discovered she had two cysts on her brain.

Lizzy said the couple "knew something wasn't right" and prior to Bella's diagnosis, they had been told the cysts could lead to cerebral palsy - a lifelong condition that affected movement and co-ordination.

"When you have a child you expect them to be able and have a nice life with no difficulties," Lizzy said.

"So when we were told she had cerebral palsy and she may never walk, it was really hard to hear and really sad.

"We just didn't know what the future would hold."

Bella has just started sitting unaided, but she is still unable to walk on her own.

She makes use of several different types of equipment including a walker, powered wheelchair and a tricycle.

Her mother described her as a "determined little girl" who talked "non-stop".

"She's got lots of friends and [at] pre-school... she's a little celebrity there," Lizzy added.

"She's trying so hard to do everything. She keeps saying to me, 'mummy I'm going to walk soon'.

"She understands that she can't walk yet which is why we're trying to do lots of intensive physio with her to help get her legs to work and to get her body able."

Bella has access to NHS physiotherapy, but is only able to have a session every six weeks, which led the family to organise private weekly sessions.

They are now looking to get her onto a week's intensive therapy with a company offering hydrotherapy.

Bella has been on the course before, which is only on offer from Lanzarote in the Canary Islands or in the USA.

The family is fundraising through Kent-based charity Tree of Hope, which will also receive some of the fundraised money.

"We wanted to be held accountable, to make sure that we're using that money for Bella for her physio and making sure that it's also helping other children as well," Lizzy added.

To help with the fundraiser, Bella is taking on the At Home Winter Wonderwheels challenge - covering as much distance as she can using her walking aids over the next two weeks.

"It's been heartwarming just to see how many people out there want to help Bella and support her," Lizzy added.

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