A BRAVE girl with a rare form of cerebral palsy is making remarkable progress after she underwent pioneering surgery in America.

Lacey-May Cooper, six, from Laindon, has spastic diplegia cerebral palsy.

She cannot walk well, has poor balance and speech and learning difficulties.

She also suffers spasticity in her legs, which causes her pain.

Lacey-May was facing an uncertain future in a wheelchair.

However, in October she underwent surgery, thanks to friends and family, who raised £60,000 to pay for the treatment.

Mum Sarah and dad Damien told how they were now seeing the results.

Mrs Cooper, of Hermitage Drive, Laindon, said: “We’re noticing differences already.

“Lacey-May is a lot stronger in her little legs and she’s managing to walk a little bit without her frame now.

“She’s slowly getting better and it’s about building up her strength now.”

She is now undergoing a year of intensive rehabilitation, which will help her to walk even better.

The expert care she has still has to be paid for and family friend Neil Kirsh is running the Brighton Marathon on April 6 to raise funds.

A charity afternoon has also been organised at Stay and Play, in Basildon, on Tuesday, April 1, from 4pm to 6pm.

Her family are more hopeful than ever that their little girl may one day have a normal life.

Following their early struggles, her parents have set up a support group, called Little Troopers, to help other families who have children with special needs.

Mrs Cooper said: “We didn’t really have any support group to help us and that shocked us.

“The idea is for people to come to Little Troopers and discuss everyday life so we can all be there for each other.”

The meetings take place every Wednesday, from 12.30pm to 2.30pm, at the All About Centre, in Leinster Road, Laindon. All are welcome.

To sponsor Lacey-May’s ongong treatment, go online to gofundme.com/laceymaysfund