Moving moment girl with cerebral palsy walks into school on first day – Metro.co.uk

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Moving footage shows the moment a young girl with cerebral palsy cast off her crutches to walk into school unaided on her first day.

Lilac Jackson, four, has always needed the aids to get around, but decided her first day of primary school would be different.

Now her parents believe she is one step closer to getting rid of them altogether.

Leila, 37, and Barry, 39 said she has been blowing her teachers minds during her first week at Woodmancote Primary School in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, sauntering around the classroom unaided.

Mum-of-three Leila said: Shes buzzing off the adrenaline. She comes home every afternoon glowing.

Shes had a couple of stickers at school this week, so shes loving life.

The mum-of-three, who also has Lulu, 13, and Leo, 3, added: Its everything weve ever wanted. Her attitude is amazing.

It just says so much about how far shes come, and how ready she was for this.

All parents stop and reflect on their childs first day of school, but for Lilac this is such a huge milestone. She lives an extraordinary life.

Lilac was a fighter from birth, the couple said.

Leilas waters broke at 29 weeks, but she was not induced until the 34th week had passed. Shortly after birth Lilac was shuttled from Princess Royal Hospital in Bromley to Kings College Hospital where she was kept on life support for five days.

Leila said: Her progress has been mindblowing. Shes tough as old boots.

She was quite nervous about walking into school by herself on Monday, so Id sort of resigned myself to the fact that walking in without sticks might not happen.

When we got to the drop-off point I told her to just try a couple of steps. But then when I dropped her hand, she just flew past me.

Spastic diplegia cerebral palsy is a neurological condition that usually appears in early childhood and permanently affects muscle control and coordination.

Affected people have higher muscle tone, leading to to spasticity stiff or tight muscles and exaggerated reflexes in the legs.

Leila has raised over 100,000 for Lilacs treatment through the fundraising page Lilacs Little Legs.

The girl is set to make her TV debut alongside David Tennant in ITV crime thriller, Deadwater Fell.

She got the role through Zebedee, a talent agency for people with disabilities.

Leila added: The process was incredible for Lilacs confidence she got more out of it than any therapy session we could pay for. She absolutely loved it.

She said: If she keeps progressing in the way that she is, were hoping that therell be no need for sticks, and they can sit in the garage and gather dust.

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Moving moment girl with cerebral palsy walks into school on first day - Metro.co.uk