Isla is the most wonderful, smart and beautiful 6 year old. She teaches me so much everyday and it is an honour that she is such a huge part of my life. Her parents, Debbie and Richard, are some of my closest friends. Owing to a birth injury, Isla has quadriplegic cerebral palsy and needs lots of regular therapy to help her.

Isla made a speedy entry to the world but, tragically, suffered a hypoxic incident and had to be resuscitated at birth, transferred to another hospital for medical cooling and spent the first five weeks of her life in intensive care. It was five days before Debbie and Richard were able to hold their precious, much longed-for, baby.

A little more about Isla the Incredible. Isla is non-ambulant but walks with a walker, is non-verbal, however has a high level of receptive and expressive language using different methods of communication aids, including eye-gaze, PODD book, partner assisted scanning and switches. Isla shows so much determination, has a great sense of humour and loves to cause mischief and laugh out loud!

Isla has privately funded physiotherapy and other forms of intensive therapy weekly, including hydrotherapy, occupational therapy and speech and language. These therapies are helping increase Isla's core strength, head control, limb strength and her ability to communicate. The more therapy and access to specialised equipment we can give Isla, especially in the formative years, the more we help her to reach her optimum potential and hopefully allow her some independence.

Intensive therapy is extremely important for children like Isla. Specialist intensive therapy has recently become available at one treatment centre in the UK, run by an organisation called NAPA. This was previously only available in America and Australia. The therapy aims to help Isla build new neural connections and assist her towards sitting unaided, weight bearing and having better control of her upper limbs. Working on her communication skills is also a key goal as Isla certainly has a lot she wants to say! However, this therapy remains expensive and is only available through private funding which is why campaigns like this are so important.

Isla has an infectious smile, tries SO hard and brings joy to everyone she meets. Helping Isla the Incredible to reach her full potential would be the best gift we could ever give her.

All of Isla's family and friends thank you very much for any support you can offer this incredible little girl.