Help Lola towards a better life
by Hayley Robinson
On December 21, 2007, at
6.29am Lola Stockdale was born.
It should have been a totally
happy occasion for her parents Kellie Humphrey and Noel Stockdale,
but instead they were filled with anxiety and fear.
Their newborn had been
starved of oxygen and blood for 55 minutes due to a prolapsed
cord.
Seven minutes after entering
the world she took her first breath and was whisked off to
intensive care, where she was placed on a cooling mat and connected
to a feeding tube.
Kellie, 33, said: "I sat by
her side for hours telling her she is beautiful and that one day
she will shine and show the doctors what she can do."
Scans revealed some
abnormalities but it wasn’t until she was about seven months old
that she was diagnosed as having four-limb cerebral palsy, global
development delay and cerebral vision problems caused by her birth
trauma.
Her condition means she is
unable to walk, talk or feed herself.
The four-year-old relies on a
wheelchair to get around and wears glasses to see.
In a bid to improve her
quality of life, Kellie and Noel have started a campaign called
Lola’s Journey, to raise £50,000 so the youngster can undergo stem
cell treatment in America.
This involves taking cells
and implanting them into the brain, to act as a repair
system.
The couple will cover the
flight and accommodation costs themselves.
To date nearly £9,000 has
been raised thanks to various fundraisers and donations.
Former Fulston Manor pupil
Kellie, whose parents live in Harold Road, Sittingbourne, said:
"Lola is a very happy little girl and enjoys being surrounded by
the people she knows.
"She has a wicked sense of
humour which makes her such a character.
"She brings so much joy to
the family and is keen to try new things, which is why I am
determined to help her have stem cell therapy as I really do
believe this will give her more potential in life which she so
deserves.
"Some people have been known
to walk after undergoing the treatment but I’m not getting my hopes
up. Even if she can use her hands or is able to sit unaided that
would be something for us.
"She is just gorgeous and
beautiful and I love her to pieces. Even if nothing comes of it at
least I can say we tried."
To support the campaign, visit
www.lolasjourney.com or
www.facebook.com/lolasjourneycharity
15/11/12
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