A TODDLER with cerebral palsy who suffered a stroke before his first birthday has taken his first tentative steps after therapy from a County Durham charity.

Little Hunter Maskell took his first independent steps at the age of two in front of his proud mother and grandmother.

“It’s the best ever feeling,” said mum Chloe Bell. “He’s taken more steps as well. He can walk from sofa to sofa which is great. It’s a massive milestone he has achieved.

“Hunter had a stroke and his balance has been affected, so taking his first steps is a really massive thing”.

Chloe, 25, and partner Gary Maskell, of Ryhope, Sunderland thanked the charity Heel and Toe, based at Pelton, near Chester-le-Street, for helping their son achieve a milestone they thought he may never reach.

The little boy was diagnosed with left-sided cerebral palsy and hemiplegia came after a scan at 11 months revealed he had suffered a stroke.

“It was very scary. When you hear cerebral palsy, you think of a wheelchair and you don’t know how they are going to progress.

“It is life-changing and I didn’t think he would be walking at all.”

The Northern Echo:

STEPS: Little Hunter Maskell has taken his first steps after help from Heel and Toe charity

Hemiplegia in children is a type of cerebral palsy that results from damage to the part of the brain that controls muscle movements, but early therapy delivered by Heel and Toe, has made an enormous difference.

“Getting the physio in before the age of about seven or eight is really important as after then the brain function slows down,” said Chloe. “Now, we are training his left side of the brain to compensate for the right side, as he has left sided cerebral palsy with damage to the right side of his brain.

“Because he’s a baby you can retrain the brain very early on as you have this window in time to make an enormous difference. You can’t do that with an adult. With rehabilitation, he can lead a normal life.

“He has only been going to Heel and Toe for a year but the change in him has been massive.”

Earlier this year, the charity launched its Footprints Appeal to raise £280,000 to open a second centre at Perkinsville, near Chester-le-Street, which will include a unique hydrotherapy pool, therapy rooms, rebound therapy on a trampoline, a charity shop and accommodation for families who are travelling from outside the region.

Paul Gilsenan, Chairman of Heel and Toe said: “We’re asking local communities and businesses to get involved in our Footprints Appeal to raise money which will enable us to restore a building we have purchased through our fundraising and provide vital therapy for disabled children from across the region.

“The therapy centre will make a huge difference to the lives of the children and young people we work with as the support we are able to give to families can be a lifeline during difficult times.”