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Mahlica Ajaib has never walked and suffered terrible pain from her condition, with the vital treatment she needed not available in the UK.

Her family beat their fundraising target of 55,000 for the two operations she needed to lengthen her muscles.

After seeing her take her first steps her father Atif, 37, said: I didnt expect her to do it, I thought it would take months of physio. All I could see was her foot moving forward, it was very emotional.

She took her first step and was so happy she said daddy it feels like Ive got a new pair of legs.

She went to the US for the life changing surgery with her twin sister Naseem, her mum Freeha, 34, and dad.

The family first approached the Recorder earlier this year to help publicise their efforts to raise enough money for the operation.

Mr Ajaib, of Castleview Gardens, Gants Hill, said: After we spoke to the Recorder it was just a few months to her taking her first steps, its like a dream come true.

I was overwhelmed by the support coming in before I felt I couldnt cope with it all.

In April the family had raised 10,000 towards the procedure this figure now stands at more than 60,000.

The extra money will be put towards the costs of physiotherapy which Mahlica will need for more than a year to help her walk completely unaided.

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