Blooming cute! Girl, 3, with cerebral palsy who’s shy about walking in public because people stare beats her nerves as an adorable flower girl at her aunt’s wedding

Australia
By William

A toddler with cerebral palsy grew into the perfect flower girl at her aunt’s wedding.

Ruby Cochrane, three, from Melbourne, was born to mother Stephanie Cochrane, 37, ten weeks early, before being diagnosed with the debilitating condition, which makes it difficult for her to walk unassisted.

Cerebral palsy is a lifelong condition that occurs when a baby’s brain is deprived of oxygen during or shortly after birth.

In most cases, this is due to a difficult delivery, but it can also occur due to an infection of the brain or a head injury.

Stephanie, a stay-at-home mom of three, says “people stare at Ruby,” and as a result, the toddler has become increasingly insecure about walking in public.

Ruby Cochrane, three, grew into the perfect flower girl at her aunt’s wedding despite being diagnosed with cerebral palsy – a condition that makes it difficult for her to walk unassisted (Image: Ruby walks down the aisle with her brothers Jack and Josh, both five)

Ruby Cochrane was born to mother Stephanie Cochrane, 37, (pictured) ten weeks early, before being diagnosed with the debilitating condition. Stephanie says 'people stare at Ruby', and as a result toddler has become increasingly insecure about walking in public

Ruby Cochrane was born to mother Stephanie Cochrane, 37, (pictured) ten weeks early, before being diagnosed with the debilitating condition. Stephanie says ‘people stare at Ruby’, and as a result toddler has become increasingly insecure about walking in public

Still, the little hero overcame her fears by trying to walk down the aisle like a flower girl, with nothing but her walker to help.

Stephanie revealed, “She was really nervous about it because when we’re in public, we get stared at. She doesn’t like being looked at like that.

She was afraid she wouldn’t make it to the end, but she did. Her brothers really helped her with that.

In the end she loved it. She really enjoyed people watching her this time.”

Ruby’s aunt and uncle, whose names are unknown, wanted Ruby to be the flower girl, while her two brothers, Jack and Josh, both five, were to be the page boys.

While her brothers supported the walker, Ruby held on tight and finally made it to the aisle, successfully.

Her family was delighted, especially Ruby’s aunt and uncle, who are “very close to Ruby” and have no children of their own.

While the youngster was initially scared to walk down the aisle, her daring in the face of adversity works wonders for her confidence.

The little hero overcame her fears by trying to walk down the aisle as a flower girl, with nothing but her walker to help

The little hero overcame her fears by trying to walk down the aisle as a flower girl, with nothing but her walker to help

Her brothers were in tow to support Ruby as she held onto the walker and eventually made it to the aisle to facilitate success

Her brothers were in tow to support Ruby as she held onto the walker and eventually made it to the aisle to facilitate success

What is Cerebral Palsy?

Cerebral palsy is the name for a range of conditions that affect movement and coordination that stem from a problem with the brain that occurs before, during, or shortly after birth.

Symptoms are not usually apparent immediately after a child is born, but usually become noticeable after two or three years.

They include delays in reaching developmental milestones, such as:

  • not sitting by eight months;
  • not walking by 18 months;
  • seem too stiff or too floppy;
  • walk on tiptoe;
  • weak arms or legs;
  • restless, jerky or clumsy movements;
  • random, uncontrolled movements;

Difficulty speaking, swallowing, or seeing β€” along with learning difficulties β€” can also be symptoms.

Symptoms of cerebral palsy can be caused by a number of things and are not necessarily indicative of the condition can occur if a child’s brain does not develop normally in the womb, or is damaged during or shortly after birth.

Causes include bleeding into the baby’s brain, decreased blood and oxygen supply, infection the mother contracts during pregnancy, asphyxiation during a difficult birth, meningitis, or severe head injury – although the exact cause is often not clear.

There is currently no cure, but physiotherapy, speech therapy, occupational therapy, and medications are commonly used as treatments.

Each person living with the condition is affected differently, but in general most children live into adulthood and some can live for many decades.

β€œThis has greatly increased her confidence in walking. Then she held her head a little higher,” Stephanie adds.

Last year, a damning report revealed that childbirth mistakes accounted for hundreds of children born with cerebral palsy over the past decade.

An analysis of more than 1,000 NHS negligence claims shows serious mistakes include delayed delivery, missing signs of fetal distress and failure to react to the umbilical cord being around a baby’s neck is wrapped.

Research by law firm Lime Solicitors shows that errors leading to cerebral palsy-related claims cost the NHS an average of Β£493 million annually in damages and legal fees.

Robert Rose, head of clinical negligence at Lime Solicitors, said: ‘Unfortunately, I’ve seen many of these errors before. We know what lessons we should have learned, but unfortunately the same mistakes are made time and time again.’

In 2020-2021, 281 cases of preventable cerebral palsy were reported – the highest number since 2010 and one-fifth of the 10-year total.

You might also like More from author