A FOUR-year-old girl, who was told she would never walk by doctors, melted the nation's hearts as she strolled out onto the set of ITV’s This Morning.
Sophia Marshall suffered a cardiac arrest at just two days old and has spent most of her life in hospital with conditions including complete atrioventricular septal defect (CAVSD) which means she is missing four chambers on the side of her heart and sacral agenesis, a rare birth defect where the caudal partition of the spine is abnormal.
During the interview on the popular show yesterday her Wychbold parents, Chantelle and Samuel Marshall, told Sophia’s story to presenters Holly Willoughby and Phil Schofield. They explained doctors gave them the option of amputating both of her legs or using a wheelchair.
READ MORE: Sophia Marshall was never expected to walk, now she's joining Worcester Hearty Walk
Mrs Marshall said: “We thought she has fought so hard to be with us, we can’t give up on her. We supported her every day to get the support in her legs.”
The couple explained they carried out their own daily physiotherapy, encouraging Sophia to kick helium balloons to strengthen her legs.
It paid off when, in October 2018, she walked unaided for the first time.
“It was like a dream,” Mrs Marshall recalled.
After walking over to the sofa, little Sophia answered the presenters’ questions about starting nursery, and said it was “cool” to see herself on camera. As Sophia’s had previously said she wants to be a magician when she grows up, she was also given her own special magic set.
Speaking to the Worcester News afterwards Mrs Marshall said it had been a wonderful experience.
“It was surreal, especially as it was live television,” she said.
“Sophia really enjoyed it, it was really exciting. It was a whirlwind 24 hours going to London - it was a very special day for us.
“Phil and Holly were lovely, everybody was so kind. The aim was to get her story out there. We are trying to raise awareness. If we inspire just one family that has a child with a similar condition, it will have been worthwhile.”
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here