A brave Dublin girl has walked into her first day of school unaided after having life-changing surgery on her legs a few months ago.
Sienna Clare, 4, from Clonee in Dublin 15 has diplegia Cerebral Palsy. Last year her dad and other firefighters helped to raise over €120,000 to send her to St Louis in Missouri in the USA for Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy surgery under the acclaimed surgeon Dr Park. Before Christmas, Sienna and her mam Lesley Anne and dad Ciaran flew out to St Louis where her operation was hailed a 'huge success'.
Earlier today, Sienna started junior infants at Mary, Mother of Hope Junior School in Clonee and she walked in without the use of a wheelchair on her own.
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Speaking to Dublin Live, Sienna's proud mum Lesley Anne described her daughter as being a "miracle" and that they are so pleased to have reached this huge milestone.
She said: "Everything went great with Sienna's surgery in America, we were back home for Christmas and all. She was still using her wheelchair for a bit for long distances and when she got tired, but recently now she's been walking around unaided without her wheelchair.
"She's going to Mary, Mother of Hope Junior School in Clonee to start junior infants and she's going to walk into the classroom herself for the first time. I just can't believe it, miracles do happen in a world of bad news. It's a fabulous milestone for Sienna and us," added Lesley Anne.
Lesley Anne said that her family is so proud of Sienna, and that it's a great result for the SDR community in Ireland. "It's great for the SDR community to see Sienna going off to school, there are so many kids in Dublin 15 with additional needs like Sienna that need help," she said.
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