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£20,000 fundraiser for Barham girl, 6, with cerebral palsy who can't walk

A six-year-old girl with cerebral palsy needs £20,000 to give her a fighting chance of walking.

The money would fund life-changing stem cell transplants for Taylor Bennett, of Barham, who developed the condition after contracting septicaemia and meningitis as a baby.

Money is being raised for Taylor Bennett, six, to be treated at a clinic in Panama
Money is being raised for Taylor Bennett, six, to be treated at a clinic in Panama

It has left her unable to walk and only with basic vocabulary as she struggles with her cognitive abilities.

But costly treatment at the Stem Cell Institute in Panama, South America, could drastically improve her life.

Her mum, Sharene Bennett, 31, said: “She is doing very well - a lot better than we were originally told she would.

“She is a very happy child and doesn’t need to walk to be happy, but it’s more about the long-term opportunities for her.”

Stem cell treatment for people with cerebral palsy has the ability to regenerate and repair damaged cells in the body, as well as create new ones.

Cerebral palsy stops Taylor from walking
Cerebral palsy stops Taylor from walking

It can help reverse some of the symptoms and can make "huge improvements" to the lives of people with the condition.

Mrs Bennett says the long-term goal is to improve Taylor’s speech.

“Taylor has moderate oral preparatory and phrase difficulties,” she said.

“She loves music and can communicate using three to four word utterances.”

Eight hours after her birth, Taylor had difficulty breathing, pale skin, and refused to eat - and was rushed to intensive care.

She had a bleed on the brain and at three-days-old, she required an operation to drain excess cerebral fluid.

Mrs Bennett, who says it is "physically and mentally exhausting" looking after her daughter, has set up a Go Fund Me page to raise the £20,000 for her treatment.

The money will cover the cost of stem cell treatments for five days, seven days of accommodation in Panama, flights and transport.

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