Victoria's mum is in desperate need of funds for a specialist seating system for her daughter with special needs, who she describes as "a miracle from God".

Three-year-old Victoria, who was born at 25 weeks gestation and suffered brain damage at birth is unable to sit, walk or control her head.

After seeing her daughter use a specialised seat, known as a P-Pod chair, during respite care at Haven House Hospice her mum, Liliana Cristea, is certain that the equipment could be life-changing for not only Victoria but the rest of the family too.

Liliana, explains: "At the moment Victoria is either in bed or in a pram as she can't sit up unaided, but she's getting too big for the pram and she's completely cut off from us when she's in her bed as it has barriers for her safety.

"She spends 20 nights a year at Haven House Hospice for respite care, which is where I first saw how much of an impact the P-Pod chair could have on her life."

A P-Pod chair is a custom-made seat designed specifically for disabled children and adults which provides effective postural support.

Victoria's P-Pod chair will include a belt and head support, to help keep her upright, as well as wheels, so that she can be easily moved between rooms at home.

However, costing over £1,600, the equipment is prohibitively expensive for single-mum of two Liliana.

Children's disability charity, Children Today Charitable Trust, has provided £1,000 towards the cost of the seat, but Liliana needs a further £616.14 to get this vital piece of equipment her daughter so desperately needs.

Liliana continues: "If we can raise the rest of the funds needed for the P-Pod chair it will be life-changing for all of us. Ill be able to easily move Victoria between rooms, so she can be in the kitchen with me while I'm cooking or playing in the living room with her younger brother, Gabriel. Shell even be able to come in the garden with us, which isn't an option at the moment.

"Victoria and Gabriel have an amazing connection. Gabriel is very caring and loves to entertain Victoria; he's like therapy for her you can see her light up whenever he's around, but when she's in her bed she cant see or hear him properly. The P-Pod chair would change all that.

Victoria, who Liliana says is "almost like a celebrity at Homerton Hospital" in Hackney, where she has received much of her treatment, has surprised doctors.

Liliana explains: "I was told Victoria wouldn't survive, but she has proved us all wrong. When she was born she was intubated for six months, and was never expected to be able to breathe unaided but I couldn't give up on her.

"She had a tracheotomy at six months old and was able to breathe on her own straight away. The doctors thought she would be blind, but she's not. At one point I used to have to move her joints regularly as she couldn't on her own, and now she can wriggle and move about all by herself."