Girl, 6, is heading to Thailand to improve her sight

A GIRL with a rare condition that has left her nearly blind has been forced to travel to Thailand for life-changing treatment.

Chloe Martin is one of only two children in Scotland battling Septo-optic dysplasia, which has left her with permanent hormone deficiencies.

The six-year-old was born with an undeveloped optic nerve and needs vital stem cell treatment to improve her vision.

In 2013, her parents Kayleigh and Dean Ballantyne, saved enough money to take her to Thailand for an initial round of treatment, which has improved Chloe’s eyesight.

But now, the family want to return for a second course and needs to raise £16,000.

Kayleigh, 26, who lives in the Stenhouse area of Edinburgh with her family, said: “Chloe can make out shapes and shadows now so the treatment has worked.

“She’s shown us clear signs she can see things, for example she will often hold her tablet up to her face when watching Peppa Pig, and she reaches out for things. When she was younger we didn’t know the effect it was having on her, but now she is older she communicates more.

“It is our dream for her to receive more treatment. We hope it would improve her quality of life even more.”

Speaking of the moment she first discovered there was something wrong with her daughter, Kayleigh said: “It was at my 18-week pregnancy scan, but the doctors didn’t know how badly it was going to affect her.

“After she was born, she spent seven weeks in the neonatal unit before we brought her home.

“As her condition is so rare, it wasa learning process not only for us, but also for the doctors and nurses.

“We want to give her back anything we can.”