Aleiah Farrugia is a typical little girl. She loves Barbie dolls, fashion and dancing, and she’s a bit of a party goer.
It’s only her physical limitations that set the four-year-old from Taylors Hill apart. She was born early, at 29 weeks, after her mother Tania became ill during her pregnancy.
Because of her early delivery, and a brain bleed, Aleiah became quite sick and doctors were concerned she wouldn’t survive. She was in an intensive care unit for three months, and it was there she first showed her fighting spirit.
“The hospital knew something was wrong; they were just unsure how much damage it [the brain bleed] did,” Tania says.
When her daughter was 14 months old, Tania noticed Aleiah wasn’t hitting normal milestones.
“She was quite late. She started rolling at six months instead of three,” her mum says.
“At two, she learned how to sit up, which usually happens at six to nine months of age. It was just her overall tone; her upper body was very tight, her hands were always fisted.”
The family was eventually given the devastating news that Aleiah had cerebral palsy, the most common childhood physical disability in this country.
Time may also reveal other complications, as a recent MRI showed the lower part of Aleiah’s brain, which controls motor skills, had not grown properly.
Despite the hiccups, Aleiah is progressing well with her lessons at the Cerebral Palsy Education Centre (CPEC). She’s more confident, understands her body better and is not feeling as though she has sensory overload.
She receives physiotherapy, speech and occupational therapy, which Tania says has guided her improvement. After ticking off another recent milestone – learning to walk in a specially made walker – Aleiah has a new goal in her sights: to walk around the MCG as part of the Melbourne Marathon later this month.
“She started using it [the walker] two months ago; she doesn’t walk 100 per cent, but she can stand up comfortably and take little steps,” Tania says. “Aleiah will complete the last bit of the walk with us. We’re really excited.”
Tania and her family will take part in the ‘mini-marathon’ leg of the marathon on Sunday, October 18, raising funds for CPEC. It’s the only centre of its kind. However, the government covers only a quarter of its operating costs.
To donate, call 9560 0700 or email info@cpec.org.au
