Watch the girl who is defying odds and aspires to become an actor and singer
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A 10-year-old girl, from East Leake, UK, has an extremely rare condition called spinal muscular atrophy with respiratory distress type 1 (SMARD1) and is unable to breathe without a ventilator.
Her mother Lidia Sherwood told Barcroft TV: “When Maddison was diagnosed 10-years ago there were only around 10 to 15 cases in the whole world. It was a scary time because obviously there was nothing known about SMARD. There’s still not really much known now.”
Doctors said she wouldn’t live past two years old if they didn’t ventilate her.
Lidia and her husband Jamie had to give up their jobs as their daughter needs 24-hour care.
Lidia says it was tough at the beginning as her husband had to quit his job as a full-time builder.
Lidia said: “Because she needs two people 24 hours a day, she was only allowed out of the hospital with both of us been full-time carers.”
“Jamie had to quit work. He was a full-time builder and has been since he was 15. It was a big step for him as a man to be that provider. But the sacrifice was Maddison was our priority.”
But, Maddison was their priority and now, it has become normal for them.
Maddison Sherwood, who uses a wheelchair since the age of two, is defying odds and aspires to become an actor and singer.
Maddison attends a local drama school where she sings, acts and dances.
Her Principal Jo Gallagher said: “When people ask me what sort of students we have here, I always mention Maddison.
She’s a child who wasn’t supposed to live very long. So, to see her on stage singing, acting and dancing it’s outstanding.”
“The teachers adore her; all the students think she’s a great friend and she gets along with everybody.”
She also has a YouTube channel where she shows that she is living a normal life and educate people with similar conditions.