Courage of Millie, 4, as she takes first step to school... cheered by her loving twin
A LITTLE girl with cerebral palsy takes her first steps alone on the first day of primary school – with encouragement from her devoted twin brother.
Millie Bea Hughes, four, told her mother Natalie she wanted to walk into school on her own for her first day this week.
In her new school uniform and with a big smile, Millie was recorded on video as she took her first slightly wobbly steps.
Mrs Hughes, 36, walked behind while twin Evan was in front, encouraging her – and offering to bring her a toy or her stick to help.
Mrs Hughes, of Carnforth, Lancashire, said: “Millie was so determined and wanted to do it. It makes me cry every time I watch that video.
“Evan was encouraging her – you can see his little feet in the clip and hear him ask, ‘Shall I get your sticks or a toy?’ It’s really sweet.
“It makes me really, really proud. She’s come so far with all her physio and Evan always wants to help her.”
Proud
Mrs Hughes, a detective constable with Cumbria Police, and her husband Chris, 36, a nuclear power station operator, say the twins have been inseparable since they were born.
Mrs Hughes said: “They love each other very much and Evan will ask, ‘Are you OK Millie?’ and try and help her. When we go to the park he makes sure she has a good time and pushes her on the swing.”
In January, Millie had a selective dorsal rhizotomy operation, which destroys spinal nerve roots that cause muscle rigidity, at Portland hospital in London.
The procedure, along with extensive physiotherapy, means she can move and play more independently.
Simple things such as kneeling, then getting up, were impossible before the operation. But now she can do them with relative ease.
Mrs Hughes said Millie’s school walk was made possible by intensive strength and conditioning at specialist therapy centre Walk This Way, in Perth.
“She’s struggled with confidence so I’m hoping our next visit there will really help,” Mrs Hughes said.
“She’s now able to do things she couldn’t do before the operation and is smashing it – I’m so proud of her.”