Izzy is preparing for a life-changing journey
It's been a long road but the family of a little girl who was born blind have finally set a date for what they hope will be a life-changing operation.
Three-year-old Izabelle Evans has a rare genetic condition which affects her brain and eyes and her family hope it will be improved with pioneering stem cell surgery in China.
They were overwhelmed when in just over one year generous readers of The News donated the 30,000 needed for the operation they hope will give her the gift of sight.
Her mum Hollie McHugh and father James Evans, of Pagham Gardens, Hayling Island, will fly to Shenzhen to start the treatment on November 1.
Mr Evans, 23, said: 'We're both very excited but Hollie is very nervous and just wants to get it over and done with.
'We've been waiting for a long time to get this far because we've had to have detailed scans and medical reports carried out and sent from the consultant here to China where the doctors there have had to assess them.
'We're really, really hoping it will give Izzy some vision. She's making a lot of progress now she's at Rachel Madocks school and you can actually have a small conversation with her.
'She can ask for her toys and when we put her to bed she says "love you". And she can ask for help if she needs it which is brilliant.
'Obviously we want the operation to work but we're not going to work ourselves up by expecting too much. Any improvement will be a huge bonus for Izzy.'
Septo optic dysplasia affects just one in five million babies.
It means Izzy has only a few hundred optic nerves to her brain when she needs millions to be able to see.
Doctors will harvest stem cells from donated umbilical cords and they will be given to Izzy intravenously.
While she is over there she will also be given a complete care package which includes daily acupuncture and physiotherapy.
The family are facing a two-month stay and are relying on the donations to pay for their stay and their flights.
Mr Evans, who is a full-time carer for Izzy along with his 24-year-old girlfriend, said: 'We're so grateful for the help everyone has given us. We owe this chance to Izzy.'
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Friday 25 May 2012
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