Gallery: Two years since her operation, brave Brooke Lawrance is continuing to defy the medical barriers...and moves closer to her dream of walking unaided

Brooke Lawrance at home with her family. It has been two years since she had pioneering surgery to help her walk unaided. L-R Neve, Peter, Brooke, Nadine, Sarah and Samuel Lawrence. (Image: Archant)

Two years have now passed since the nine-year-old, who suffers from cerebral palsy, underwent pioneering surgery to help her walk for the very first time.

Before the operation, which took place at St Louis Children’s Hospice in Missouri, the Britannia Primary School pupil was confined to a wheelchair and would regularly be in tears because of her condition.

But today the youngster, who was diagnosed at birth, is continuing to make incredible progress towards her dream of walking alone on her own two feet, and mum Sarah couldn’t be prouder.

She said: “There has been an amazing progression. Two years ago she couldn’t even sit up and doctors here said she would never be able to walk, but now she is going on to sticks.

“It changed our life forever and it started Brooke’s new life. She was having a life before but she had her wheelchair everyday and was in pain and crying every day because she didn’t want to be like that.

“She was always asking, why me? But she never says that now, she just looks forward to her future.

“She is happy and that is all we have wanted for her.”

“She can now play outside with brothers and sisters. A few months ago we (Sarah and husband Peter) were sat inside crying because we could see her playing outside, which is something we thought we would never see.”

Mrs Lawrance, 35, of Morland Road, also praised the generosity of people in Ipswich who helped to raise funds so they could get to America and Brooke could have the selective dorsal rhizotomy operation.

Since then, various events and donations have helped to ensure Brooke can carry on having physio and aftercare to continue her progress.

Mrs Lawrance added: “We couldn’t have done this without the community of Ipswich. We couldn’t have afforded it and we certainly couldn’t have afforded the aftercare.”

Doctors are hopeful that with regular physiotherapy and aftercare, Brooke, who celebrated her birthday last month, will one day be able to walk unaided.

For more information about the appeal, or if you would like to make a donation, visit www.justgiving.com/brookeswishtowalk