Source: South Wales Argus

A CWMBRAN couple are launching a £50,000 fundraising effort to pay for pioneering stem cell treatment in the hope of easing their youngest child's multiple disabilities.

Seventeen-month-old Evie Everett is severely brain damaged, has cerebral palsy, suffers regular seizures and is registered blind.

Her problems developed in the days after she was born eight weeks premature in January 2008, and for parents Heath and Nicola, of The Neerings, Coed Eva, looking after her and managing a medication regime of eight different drugs is a formidable task.

"She doesn't sleep properly, only three hours at most, and that's with two lots of sedation," said Mrs Everett.

"We've recently managed to organise three days' respite care a week, which is a huge lifeline, because she won't have anyone but Heath and me touch her, apart from her carer now she's used to her, and that has been very, very hard.

"We feel Evie's potential is untapped. Doctors, physios, nurses cannot get near her or calm her down long enough to find out the real extent of her disabilities, but we believe she has great potential with the right treatment.

"We've been told she is 80 per cent brain damaged, and has cerebral palsy and visual problems, but we don't know the extent of those until and if she is able to tell us. She's registered blind but we just don't know the full extent."

Mrs Everett's trawling of the internet for information and possible sources of help led the couple, who have six other children aged five-19, to investigate the possibility of stem cell treatment.

Stem cells, cells still at an early stage of development, have the potential to turn into many different types of cell.

Research is ongoing, and treatments have been and continue to be developed for a wide range of diseases and conditions.

The cells can be manipulated and targeted at specific parts of the body where research has shown them to be potentially helpful, often injected directly into an affected area to mend damaged tissue, or through areas such as the spinal column, which act as routes to areas such as the head and brain.

"Something came up on a search about stem cell treatments in China and we made inquiries there," said Mrs Everett.

"We've been in touch for a few months with the company (Beike Biotech) and they have accepted Evie as suitable for stem cell treatment. They will use umbilical cord stem cells from newborn babies.

"That's very important, because you hear of them being taken from aborted foetuses, and if that were the case I couldn't do it.

Treatment could cost £50,000 

EVIE'S treatment, at Hangzhou Hospital near Shanghai, would involve up to eight injections of stem cells through the spinal column, and means 40 days in China and a cost of £50,000.

Mr and Mrs Everett have set up an account at Barclays Bank in Cwmbran, under the title Evie's Hope.

"It's a lot of money and hard work, but we're hoping people will be able to help us out," said Mrs Everett.

"I'd love to come back with her seizures having stopped, and her being able to see her brothers and sisters, her mum and dad.

"We think she's trying to turn herself over onto her tummy, and she pushes her legs against you. It's like her body wants to do things but her brain won't let it.

"If we can raise the money we'll go as soon as we can. We owe it to her to try to do something. I'd give my own life to have her normal. I'd hate to think in 10 years' time that I should have done it, but hadn't."

Anyone who may be able to help with fundraising for Evie may contact Mr and Mrs Everett on 01633 876110.

Anyone wishing to donate to Evie's Hope can do so through the Cwmbran branch of Barclays Bank, through account number 53333221. The branch sort code is 20-60-64.