A little girl who suffered two strokes before she was a week old has been given help to improve her physical and educational skills.

Grace Bealey, from Chatham, suffered serious complications as a result of both strokes which happened when she was just three days old.

She now has cerebral palsy, epilepsy, global development delay and oesophageal dysphagia, which affects her speech and ability to eat and drink foods a child her age usually consumes.

In April 2020, she was in a coma after a particularly bad seizure triggered by her epilepsy and is likely to get more diagnoses of learning and behavioural disabilities as she gets older.

Mum Lianne said charity Step and Learn, which Grace, now four years old, has been attending since she was a few months old, has been invaluable toward helping her physical mobility and her ability to walk.

"I was told it was very unlikely she’ll ever walk unaided, or talk," Liane said.

"With Step and Learn's support, she can do both, albeit a little limited."

'She is a vibrant, happy and sweet little girl, everyone that meets her falls in love'

Grace has now been sponsored by the Honor Oak Lodge No.1986 – a Freemasons lodge based in Gillingham – to help her continue to attend the sessions.

It will continue to provide her with the much-needed therapy to support her mobility, enabling her to live as full and happy a life as possible.

Lianne added: "As a single parent this has bought much-needed financial stability for Grace's ongoing care that isn’t available on the NHS. It’s lifted a great weight.

"She is a vibrant, happy and sweet little girl. She exudes love and positivity and everyone that meets her falls in love."

Step and Learn dedicates its work to the physical and educational improvements of children with cerebral palsy and associated motor difficulties.

'This has bought much-needed financial stability for Grace's ongoing care that isn’t available on the NHS'

The service it provides is not available on the NHS and is provided free of charge to those that need it.

The Rochester-based charity, funded solely by charitable donations, helps 51 children across Kent, and has six more waiting to be assessed.

Honor Oak made its announcement following members' annual Christmas party, which has been held in aid of Step and Learn since 2013.

The lodge will continuously sponsor Grace in her sessions at Step and Learn and will receive regular updates on her progress and support her on her journey.

Chairman of Step and Learn, Patrick Barden, said the sponsorship scheme allows donors to follow the progress of their sponsored child and highlights the positive impact that Step and Learn can have on a child growing up with cerebral palsy or other associated disorders.