A three year old Whittlesey girl, who raises money for two charities, had her wish come true when she met Santa for the first time.
The youngster has always been in hospital over the festive season but this year the Whittlesey Lions Club arranged for a very special visitor to see her at home and a local garden centre also arranged for a special Santa tea.
Maya Ratcliffe, who has spina bifida, hydrocephalus and epilepsy, was born prematurely and contracted meningitis at just a month old.
She has undergone more than 15 operations - five have been major life saving procedures to her brain and spine.
Her mum Fay Dovey said: “Maya’s one wish was to see Father Christmas and it was granted thanks to the wonderful people at Whittlesey Lions club who arranged a special visit from the big man at our house on their rounds.
“This was followed by a special invitation for afternoon tea with Santa for our family at Dobbies Garden centre, Peterborough.
“Every year she has been admitted to hospital at this time and been too poorly to meet him even when he does his magical rounds at the hospital.
“Things were not looking promising for this year either as Maya was housebound following major surgery to her hips - a bilateral hip reconstruction with pelvic and femoral osteotomies - and is now in full cast from her chest to her toes.”
Maya’s occupational therapist Susie Crago and Peterbourgh community nursing team ensured the family had everything they needed for the Dobbies trip including a car seat and a special wheelchair.
“Dobbies worked their magic and went above and beyond to make a very special afternoon for the whole family,” Fay said.
“It’s not very often people share ‘good news’ stories of people going above and beyond - creating family memories for many years to come.”
Maya and family are currently fund raising to buy her a special lightweight wheelchair to enable her to take part in the many activities she loves including dancing, racing and basketball.
The fund raising page for Maya’s wheelchair is: http:www.gofundme.comMAYASWONDERLAND
The fund raising page for SHINE is: www.justgiving.commayasadventuresinwonderland
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