A mum and dad were given a devastating diagnosis after finding a bump on their baby's back.
Joanne Wilkinson, 29, and Sam Howarth, 34, found a bump at the bottom of Olivia's back after she was born on January 10, 2021.
At just three days old Olivia was put to sleep so doctors could run tests and scans to see what was wrong.
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Joanne and Sam were 'shocked' and 'upset' when they found out Olivia had Spina Bifida, a condition which means a baby's spine and spinal cord don't develop properly in the womb, causing a gap.
This leaves vital nerves exposed as the pregnancy progresses which can cause irreparable damage - leading to walking difficulties after birth.
Joanne told The ECHO : "We didn't know that she had Spina Bifida during the pregnancy, It wasn't until we noticed a bump on the lower part of her spine.
"Olivia had spinal surgery in April 2021 when she was just three months old and we found out she has nerve damage which has caused no movement or sensation in one of her knees down to her foot.
"She's been left with a scar right across her back.
"She also had problems with her bowel, bladder and her hip hadn't fully formed. She also got Covid at one point which put her surgery back."
Olivia was transferred to Alder Hey Children's Hospital for all her treatments and surgeries. At one point Joanne and Sam would travel to Alder Hey around three times a week.
The couple, from Preston, said at first they were 'upset' when they heard Olivia had Spina Bifida but had 'learnt to live with it'.
Joanne said: "At first it was a shock and we were upset but you learn to live with it, because you just have to.
"We don’t know what the future will hold for Olivia, we don’t know if she will walk unaided, but what we do know is she is such an inspiration to us all and we want to thank the people who have helped us in such a short amount of time."
Sam added: "The worst part is that nobody can give you a definite answer because things can change, it's like being on a string and waiting for something to happen... but you don't know what."
The couple described Alder Hey as "amazing" and "brilliant" and said their support, along with a charity called the Shine Charity, inspired them to fundraise.
Joanne told The ECHO : "It's hard to describe unless you have been there [Alder Hey] but the staff are all just so helpful and it doesn't feel like a hospital.
"It's all decorated for the kids, they have iPads in the walls they can play on and they have just been so supportive.
"They tell us all of our options and we're so grateful for that. Nothing is ever too much and we really just want to do our bit and thank them."
To raise money for both charities, Sam along with three of his friends, Mark, Ben and Rob will be taking on three full rounds of a full size golf course in one day.
A total of £309 has been raised so far, with the family hoping to reach £2,500 before the fundraising day on May 1, 2022.
To donate to Olivia's GoFundMe click here.
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