"Strongest little girl we know" will take part in sponsored toddle
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A LITTLE girl with a big heart hopes to join friends from her nursery for a sponsored toddle.
At just two weeks old Tilly Cranna (2), from Glass, was diagnosed with Periventricular Leukomalacia (PVL), a type of brain injury affecting the white matter around the ventricles, typically occurring as a result of a lack of blood or oxygen to the brain.
Tilly, who was born nine weeks prematurely on June 10, 2020, was then diagnosed in May 2021, with Spastic Diplegic Cerebral Palsy. She also has airway disorders and gastrointestinal issues, and is a regular visitor to hospital.
However, her mum Kerrie Baird says she is the "strongest little girl we know".
"In spite of the challenges, Tilly is defying the odds. She eats orally, has a vocabulary of around 70 words, and the most infectious smile. At 29 months, she has the physical ability of a 6–9 month old.
"She depends on therapies and equipment provided by both the NHS and private professionals across the UK to help her progress physically and manage her symptoms to ensure she has the best chance to live a life with no limits," added Kerrie.
Her family of big sister Hallie (4), mum Kerrie (31) and dad Barry Cranna (32) have a large support network of family and friends around them, nicknamed Team Tilly.
Tilly attends the Strathisla Childcare Centre in Keith and they are holding a sponsored toddle this Saturday (May 20) and money raised will go to Tilly’s just4children fundraising campaign.
You can support their fundraising at https://just4children.org/lifewithalittlet/
Kerrie said: "It never fails to amaze me how thoughtful the people around us are, we are so blessed to have the support of not only our family and friends, but also our communities, local and beyond.
"Tilly is taking part in the sponsored toddle too. The most part will be in her buggy however we have been practicing outdoors and plan for her to do a short stretch of the toddle in her walking frame.
"In T’s words ‘my good at walking, my want to walk with my friends’.
"Tilly has never been around her friends in her walking frame before so this will be a whole new experience for us all but I know she will smash it.
Kerrie said the family are grateful for any support as they embark on the fundraising journey for Just4Children to ensure they can provide everything Tilly needs, from therapy, to specialist equipment and hopefully life-changing SDR surgery.
"To give Tilly independence is our biggest dream.
"Tilly has taught us to live with hope in our hearts, and fundraising through Just4children will allow us to give that hope for independence back to Tilly, turning her own little dreams into reality."
Follow Tilly's story on Facebook and on Instagram at Tilly's Tales; life_with_a_little_t
