This story was just published by The Sun. You can find the original story HERE.
LITTLE Dakota Clarke beams as she recognises her mum and dad for the first time.
The two-year-old, who was born blind, has been declared a 'miracle' by her parents after undergoing pioneering sight-saving treatment in China.
Dakota is the first British child to undergo the procedure.
And the £30,000 treatment, which involves stem cells being fed into her forehead, has allowed her to gaze at people, objects, colours and lights around her.
The cheerful tot, who suffers from Septo-Optic Dysplasia, also suffered by Katie Price’s son Harvey, six, responded quickly compared to previous patients.
Now delighted mum Wilma, 28, and dad Darren, 34, from Newtonabbey, Northern Ireland, hope she’ll keep improving.
With nurse ... Dakota in China
Barcroft Media
Dakota nearly died at birth and spent much of her short life in hospital.
Her condition meant she was registered blind, had poor growth, balance issues and needed two people holding her hands to help her walk.
She also had severe bowel problems and could not use the toilet herself.
But after just three weeks of stem cell treatment Dakota is able to recognise people and objects without touching them.
Dakota can also walk with just one parent holding her hand, and is using the toilet easily without the help of medication.
Mum Wilma, speaking from Qingdao, southern China, said: “We didn’t know if the treatment would work, and people kept telling us it was too experimental, but we had to do this.
“It’s been worth every single penny to see the changes in her.”
Miracle
“It’s nothing short of a miracle for us,” added Darren, who gave up work to help look after Dakota. “She can see the world for the first time.
“Last week she pointed at a hairbrush across the room and shouted ’brush’. I almost cried with happiness.
“Her balance is so improved and she can now walk beside me only holding on with one hand. Previously she would veer in circles and fall over.”
Darren and Wilma exhausted the medical options in the UK before setting up a fund and raising the money for the treatment.
Brave Dakota has been given an intravenous feed of stem cells into her hairline every day for a fortnight.
Stem cells are the building blocks of a human being, dividing and mutating in the womb to create different body parts.
When stem cells from a baby’s umbilical cord are inserted into a patient, they travel to the areas of the body which need to be repaired, forming new healthy cells.
In Dakota’s case, the stem cells travelled towards her optic nerve, repairing the damaged area, towards her brain to improve her balance, and to her bowel.
Darren said: “Her eyes used to wobble all over the place, independently and randomly. But now she can follow objects from several feet away.
“She’s far from having 20/20 vision yet - but if more treatments will help then we’ll raise the money somehow.”
Only about 15 people worldwide have tried the new treatment in China for Dakota’s condition.
The stem cells used at the Chinese clinic come from umbilical cords donated by mothers in local hospitals after giving birth.
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