Thanks for sponsoring me to do the 100 mile cycle.  It will be a really hard challenge for me to do as I am only 8 years old.  My biggest cycle so far has been 26 miles in a day, and I am going to have to do 4 of those to complete my challenge.

This is Annie’s Story.

My cousin, Annie was born 11 days late and after a long and traumatic labour in which she suffered foetal distress and a dramatic drop in heart rate. Doctors noticed her ears were a funny shape and she had mottled skin, which tests later showed was a result of a re-ordered Chromosome 10. Despite this she continued to develop normally until she suffered a stroke at 19 weeks. The stroke caused her brain damage, leaving the movement in her left side impaired. Two weeks later Annie contracted pneumococcal meningitis and was rushed into hospital where doctors released fluid from her brain. However her blood pressure peaked dramatically & soared to near fatal levels and doctors told my auntie and uncle, that she would die. They arranged an emergency christening for Annie and prayed at her bedside.  But Annie pulled through, amazingly after many months in Great Ormond Street Hospital, but her illnesses left her with a huge range of disability.

Just before Annie’s third birthday, her parents took her to the Footsteps Centre, where she began intensive physiotherapy to try and maximise her physical abilities. Before starting at Footsteps, Annie could not walk, could not sit up and was very stiff from not using her muscles.

 

 Annie is now amazingly 10 years old.  She can sit on a bench, weight bear and even take steps with someone supporting her. She is still unable to speak in a way that most people can understand, is unable to feed herself and still unable to walk.  Her increase in confidence has been Annie’s major achievement, as now she realises she can do things. Annie and her parents hope to continue therapy at Footsteps for as long as funds allow. Debbi continues: “When she was a baby back in the hospital, I couldn't imagine her doing any of this, it’s amazing how much she has achieved.”

Please help me to support Annie's future by sponsoring me!