A 4-year-old girl's first moment walking was captured on video and shared on social media. The little girl has cerebral palsy but just received surgery and is now walking without anyone else's help.
Maya's Mighty Walk
Maya Tisdale from Michigan was born 4 months early and weighed 1 pound and 10 ounces. Maya had to spend 26 weeks at the ICU but her fighting spirit earned her the nickname "Mighty Miss Maya" from her family members and friends.
Prior to Maya turning 2 years old, Maya was diagnosed with spastic diplegia cerebral palsy, which causes the muscles in her hips, legs, and feet to become tight or spastic. The illness left her unable to stand on her own for more than a few seconds and required her to use a walker.
Maya's mother, Ann Tisdale, stated that despite her daughter's diagnosis, Maya remained very independent and wanted to do everything that her older brothers do. Ann continued that even though Maya needed the assistance of a walker since the age of 1, she always wanted to walk independently.
A Miracle Walker
In May of this year, Maya's family traveled to St. Louis Children's Hospital in Missouri where Maya had undergone a surgical procedure known as Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy.
Maya's family stated that the procedure would reduce Maya's spasticity permanently and give Maya to live without much pain. After Maya's procedure, the doctor informed Maya's parents that she would someday be able to walk but not without daily physical therapy.
Seven weeks after her surgery, Maya took a few steps on her own which left her parents stunned.
This little firecracker #4thofjuly #outfitonpoint . ..... I convinced her to use her canes outside for the first time. Walking in the grass is a challenge, but she was motivated to get to those flowers so she could pick some for me. It was also a sneaky mom trick to get her to use one hand and do some squats. A post shared by Mighty Miss Maya (@mightymissmaya) on Jul 4, 2018 at 7:56am PDT
