Summer's beaming with Christmas joy
Three-year-old Summer Jones has never been able to open her own Christmas presents before.
But this year she will unwrap her own gifts after making remarkable progress in fighting a condition that severely affects her mobility.
Summer was born with hemiplegic cerebral palsy, which left her unable to co-ordinate one side of her body with the other.
But since attending the Rainbow Centre in Fareham, which specialises in dealing with children who have cerebral palsy and motor problems, she has stunned everyone with her amazing development.
When Summer, from Somervell Drive, Fareham, first visited the centre in September 2007 she was a frustrated two-year-old who could get around only by using her right hip and elbow. Unable to function the way she wanted, she would vent her frustrations with regular temper tantrums, leaving mum Anna Laishley desperate.
Without the early intervention centre staff say Summer would probably have become a wheelchair user and only been able to use one hand.
But within weeks of starting at the centre she was taking her first tentative steps, and is now able to run unaided.
Mrs Laishley, 38, said: 'We had begun to despair that Summer would be seriously disabled but thanks to the Rainbow Centre, Summer will be able to open her Christmas presents by herself without our help.
'I can't thank them enough for this fantastic gift that will last a lifetime.'
Mrs Laishley added: 'She's a very strong-willed little girl, and when she can't do things, she gets frustrated.
'She's always been fairly happy, but now she's loving it.' And she has even been able to join a mainstream nursery, attending one twice a week as well as her twice weekly Rainbow Centre sessions.'
But despite its, good work the centre, based at Cams Alders in Fareham, has been hit by the credit-crunch.
Helen Somerset How, centre co-founder, said: 'Fundraising is obviously getting much harder with the downturn in the economy.
'I can't emphasise enough how important it is for us to have continued support to ensure future generations of families like Summer's can be helped.
'We are fortunate enough to be able to meet our commitments on a month-to-month basis but do not have the luxury of substantial reserves. It is vital that these special children continue to have the chance of a better life.'
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Weather for Portsmouth
Thursday 24 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 15 C to 23 C
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