US trip for Rustington’s brave Sophie

Sophie, six, from Rustington, suffers with cerebral palsy, a condition which leaves her unable to walk or stand on her own, and crippled by painful spasms.

But after more than a year’s intensive physiotherapy and fund-raising generosity that has left both Sophie and her family “gobsmacked,” she is ready to take her next step forward.

This will be plucky Sophie’s second trans-Atlantic trip to the St Louis Children’s Hospital, where she had major surgery, known as selective dorsal rhizotomy, in 2009 to remove spasticity in her feet.

On Friday, she went back for a follow-up consultation.

Mum Debbie said: “She has been such a little fighter.

“She is doing amazingly well.

“Sophie is a real character, if you tell her she can’t do something, she will do her very best to prove you wrong.”

There will be time for fun, too, as Sophie will also be treated to a trip to Disney World, in Florida, to meet Mickey and Minnie Mouse, an adventure which has been paid for by friends, family and charity organisations.

“Sophie is very excited,” said Debbie.

“I don’t think she realises what Disney is. We just thought this would be a nice treat for all her hard work.”

Since April, the Nugents have been on the fund-raising trail to bring in a further £10,000 for Sophie to receive her second session of treatment.

She has spent countless hours at a special physiotherapy clinic, in Oxford, to help combat her condition.

However, Debbie has admitted that paying for all of Sophie’s treatment is difficult.

Speaking about the fund-raising effort over the past 18 months.

Debbie said: “We’ve been gobsmacked by the generosity of everybody.

“It’s been amazing, genuinely amazing. We can’t thank everybody enough.

“At the moment, Sophie still struggles with simple things like steps. In the playground, at school, she is still very wobbly.

“But there is still a long way to go for Sophie. We still don’t know what the future holds.”

To date, it has taken more than £50,000 to help pay for Sophie’s treatment.

The family are now awaiting the verdict from doctors in the US, which will determine a course of action for the next five years.