Girl, 4, sees parents for the first time thanks to miracle stem cell operation



A little girl who has been blind since birth has seen her mother and father for the first time - at the age of four.



Izabelle Evans can now see up to three feet in front of her after groundbreaking stem cell treatment in China costing £50,000.



Parents James Evans and Hollie McHugh said nothing could beat the feeling of the first time their daughter looked into their eyes and said: 'mummy' and 'daddy'.

Young Izabelle Evans, 4, with parents James Evans and Hollie McHugh. The little girl got her Christmas wish after stem cell treatment allowed her to see

Hollie, 24, of Hayling Island, Hampshire, said: 'The results were better than we could ever have dreamed of.



'If you walk past she can see you and say 'hiya.' It is amazing because doctors here said she couldn't see anything at all before we went.'

Izabelle can now see objects three feet in front of her

Izabelle was blind from birth after being born with Septo Optic Displasia - a congenital condition which affects just five in one million babies and also causes hormone deficiency and mobility problems.

It means she had only a few hundred optic nerves to her brain whereas she needs millions to be able to see.

Her parents decided to send Izabelle for treatment in China after researching her condition on the internet and raised the money needed in just over a year.



Her parents had hoped the controversial stem cell treatment - which is not available in the UK - would improve her sight, speech and mobility.

It involves injecting the spinal canal with cells taken from the umbilical cords of healthy babies. The cells are then used to rebuild the optic nerves.

Hollie said: 'We've seen lots of changes. Her speech has improved a lot. Before she went she could only say one or two words but now we can have a little conversation with her.



'Her walking has improved and she can support her own weight on her legs now.



'Because she has not used her eyes before we have to remind her to use them. She went back to school and they have seen a difference too.



'She picks things up and holds them close to her face. A couple of days after we got back I put the Christmas tree up and she reached out to grab for the lights.



Extracts from Izabelle's parents China diary...

Day 1: We are leaving for China today. We're feeling very nervous about the flights and how Izzy will cope on them.

Day 6: This morning Izabelle's physiotherapy session went brilliantly. She managed to take three steps all by herself in the walking frame with no help which she has never done before.

Days 9 and 10: We have noticed her speech has improved, as before we came out she would say two or three words and now she is saying little sentences.

Day 13: Today we had some very good news. I put my hand in front of Izabelle's face and she said 'fingers'. When I put my face there she said 'mummy', and when James put his face there she said 'daddy'!

Day 29: It's hard to watch her lying on the bed crying and screaming and wanting us to help her. We always think 'Is it worth it?' but seeing the results after the second treatment we know we are doing the right thing in the long run.

Day 30: The fifth stem cell went well. In fact the best yet! She was so happy.

'Last year she wasn't even aware we had a Christmas tree. It's just amazing. I can't wait for her to open her presents and experience it all for herself.



'We're just over the moon and so, so happy. It is better than anything we expected and we can't thank everyone who helped us enough. We are so grateful.'

The month-long stay in China's Qingdao Chengyang People's Hospital was not easy for the family.



Izabelle had to endure gruelling treatment with just two days off a week. She often became very upset when having the stem cell treatment and it was hard for her parents to see her in pain.



Izabelle also had acupressure, standing therapy, physiotherapy and electric wave therapy to stimulate her tight muscles, which is another aspect of her condition.



Her father James, 24, said: 'We're going to wait six months because the stem cells continue to work for six months if she stays healthy.

