Celebrities join Gazza in bid to help Miya, 16, get ‘magic voice’ back
A DISABLED girl unable to communicate after the theft of her computer is to get her electronic voice back thanks to a helping hand from former football ace Paul Gascoigne.
The ex-England star stepped in when he heard of the plight of Miya Thirlby, 16, and pledged £1,000.
Within hours a crowd funding appeal hit its target of £5,700 for new “magic voice” equipment.
Miya, from Plymouth, was born with cerebral palsy and epilepsy and grew up unable to speak.
Her life was transformed 18 months ago by an earlier fund raising campaign to buy the pioneering equipment.
It enabled Miya to “talk” by looking at icons on a screen especially adapted to respond to her eyes.
But thieves stole the electronic aid from her father Paul Johnson’s car last week.
He pleaded for its return and a an appeal on social media was launched under the hashtag “get Miya’s voice back”.
Mr Johnson wrote: “My daughter had her speech machine stolen out of the car.
“It’s her only way of communicating with us. It was pricey so it can’t be replaced easily.
“Poor girl now can’t speak to us again!!.” That is when Gascoigne, who has been battling alcohol addiction, stepped in.
The 50-year-old former Newcastle United and Tottenham star tweeted: “I’ll donate £1000 towards a new one for ya. Get in touch wiv us. Love GAZZA xxxx.”
Tennis star Andy Murray, Match of the Day pundit and former England captain Alan Shearer, comic Dawn French and TV host Lorraine Kelly also gave their support.
Shearer told the thief: “Come on man. Do the decent thing and somehow get the machine back to this little girl.” Miya’s family was “overwhelmed” by the response.
Business analyst Mr Johnson, 40, said: “The reaction restores your faith in human nature.”
Her mother Kerrie, 38, said: “It’s amazing to see how caring people are.”
Miya is wheelchair bound. She is fed through a tube and weighs only three and a half stone.
Her eyes activate a computer cursor, allowing her to select icons on the screen.
When she looks at phrases and pictures the computer forms sentences. The machine, with its uncannily realistic human voice, then reveals how she feels.