Toddler Dedicated To Guiding His Twin Sister With Cerebral Palsy Through Childhood

'He'll ask: 'Are you ok Millie?' and try and help her.'

A toddler with cerebral palsy is being guided through childhood by her twin brother.

Millie Bea Hughes, two, from Staffordshire, has to rely on a walking frame or an adult holding her up to get around.

Her brother Evan, who is just 13 minutes younger, comforts her with her toy bunny when she's upset, shares toys or fetches her shoes and biscuits.

"Millie is such a character and is desperate to be able to get up and play with Evan," Mum Natalie Hughes, 34, said. 

"They love each other very much and he'll ask: 'Are you ok Millie?' and try and help her up if she needs it."

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Evan Hughes enjoys spending time with his twin sister, Millie.

Hughes continued: "When you have twins you always imagine them to have a loving relationship and run off holding hands, which you see with other people's twins – it's really sad that they can't always do that.

"But when we go to the park he makes sure she has a good time and pushes her on the swing, which is lovely to see.

"He fetches shoes and toys for her and always makes sure if he has a drink or biscuit she gets one too."

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JustGiving

Hughes said she and her husband Chris Hughes, 34, are now trying to raise £40,000 for Millie to have a non NHS-funded op called Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy (SDR).

The procedure involves cutting nerves in the lower spine that are responsible for muscle rigidity in a bid to improve her mobility. The result would mean she may be able to walk and run around with Evan.

The fundraising page, written as though Millie is talking, reads: "SDR means having an operation to make my legs work properly and stop being stiff and tight.

"The doctors will open my back and find the rootlets in my spine which make my legs tight.

"They will split them up and this will make my legs feel better and help me to walk.

"I will need to do lots of physiotherapy after which will be hard but I just can't wait to be able to walk like my brother!"

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Hughes added: "It would mean the world if she could have this operation.

"Even at this age she knows she's dependent on us – if Evan goes off she wants to follow, she announces 'me walk' and I hold her to follow after him.

"It would just be brilliant to have them be able to play together."

Hughes, who usually attends fortnightly therapy sessions with her daughter while Evan goes to dance classes, said she'd love it if her daughter could go to dance class too.

"For her to be able to go to dance and take part properly would be amazing," she added.

You can donate to the fund on the family's JustGiving page: 'Millie Bea's Walking Wish'. 

20 DIY Busy Board Ideas To Keep Your Busy Toddler... Busy
Sensory Board(01 of20)
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Now this is a BUSY board. It has so many activities!Get the instructions here: Learning and Exploring Through Play (credit:Learning and Exploring Through Play)
Toddler Busy Board(02 of20)
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This small and compact busy board can go anywhere you have space.Get the instructions here: Embracing Life's Journey (credit:Embracing Life's Journey)
Sensory Board(03 of20)
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Put all those baby wipe containers to use to make this fun sensory board. Your baby will love touching all the textures as much as she loves opening and closing the lids.Get the instructions here: Motherhood and Other Adventures (credit:Motherhood and Other Adventures)
Peg Board Busy Board(04 of20)
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By using a peg board, you can switch up the elements on your toddler's busy board. That way he never gets bored!Get the instructions here: Can't Google Everything (credit:Can't Google Everything)
DIY Lock, Hinge And Latches Board(05 of20)
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This board might be small, but it has a lot to keep toddlers busy!Get the instructions here: Running From The Law (credit:Running From The Law)
Car Dashboard(06 of20)
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Vroooom! This busy board is just so cool. Your kids will love to pretend to drive while they push buttons, play with the shift and turn the wheel.Get the instructions here: And Next Comes L (credit:And Next Comes L)
Travel Busy Board(07 of20)
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Who says a busy board has to be permanent? This travel one is perfect for kids on the go.Get the instructions here: Hello Splendid (credit:Hello Splendid)
Zipper Board(08 of20)
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Who says a busy board has to be big and complicated? This one is so easy to pull together: all you need are glue, zippers and cardboard!Get the instructions here: Laughing Kids Learn (credit:Laughing Kids Learn)
Baby Board(09 of20)
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We love the bright colours of this horizontal board. It's perfect for babies and toddlers alike.Get the instructions here: Away We Go (credit:Away We Go)
Decorative Board(10 of20)
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How pretty is this busy board? This one is living room worthy!Get the instructions here: Dribbles Nibbles And Scribbles (credit:Dribbles Nibbles And Scribbles)
Sensory Board(11 of20)
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Babies will looooove this sensory board with so many different textures to touch. This board uses fabric hoops, which makes it super easy to make.Get the instructions here: Fun At Home With Kids (credit:Fun At Home With Kids)
Sensory Busy Board(12 of20)
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This board is great for babies and toddlers because it combines sensory play with activities. And what kid doesn't love a mirror?Get the instructions here: Fun At Home With Kids (credit:Fun At Home With Kids)
Simple Board(13 of20)
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This simple board could be made on an old cupboard.Get the instructions here: Jenson Crew (credit:Jenson Crew)
Montessori Busy Board(14 of20)
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This fabric board will help kids develop their fine-motor skills with buttons, laces, zippers and clips.Get the instructions here: Lisa Shunk (credit:Lisa Shunk)
Latch Board(15 of20)
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We love the construction theme of this activity board.Get the instructions here: The Photographer's Wife (credit:The Photographer's Wife)
Latch Board(16 of20)
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This mini board is the perfect size for families who don't have enough space to hang something big... or who might not want to mess up their walls!Get the instructions here: Young House Love (credit:Young House Love)
Peek-A-Boo Sensory Board(17 of20)
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This peek-a-boo door is the best!Get the instructions here: Happily Ever Mom (credit:Happily Ever Mom)
Personalized Board(18 of20)
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The Spiderman light switch cover totally won us over on this one.Get the instructions here: Baby Center (credit:Baby Center)
Big Sensory Board(19 of20)
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Now this is a serious board! It even has a window that opens and closes.Get the instructions here: Lady Goats (credit:Lady Goats)
Sturdy Board(20 of20)
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This board won't easily fall over. This one combines toys and hardware supplies, but what we love is the velcro name.Get the instructions here: Hands On As We Grow (credit:Hands On As We Grow)

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