A two-year-old girl with cerebral palsy may be able to walk again - thanks to her baby brother.

Tot Isla Duffy will travel to Duke University Hospital, North Carolina, US, in August to undergo stem cell treatment using her six-month-old baby brother Leo's umbilical cord blood.

The blood is rich with stem cells, has amazing regenerative properties and can be used to treat different cancers, immune deficiencies and genetic disorders.

Little Isla was deprived of oxygen and suffered a seizure shortly after birth in January 2021 and developed cerebral palsy - a motor debilitating condition which has left Isla unable to verbally communicate with extremely limited mobility.

There is no known cure to the condition, but pioneering research in America has found success in treating its effects using stem cells.

Isla's mum and dad, Emily, 32, and Sim, 32, a finance broker, were overjoyed when they found out their daughter qualified for treatment using her younger brother Leo's cord blood - after he was born in November last year.

Now they're aiming to raise £25,000 for the treatment and vital physiotherapy to follow it.

Isla's parents, Emily and Sim, are attempting to raise £25,000 for treatment and physiotherapy (Image - SWNS)

Emily, who works as a project manager for a law firm, from Stockport, Greater Manchester, said: "It was a massive relief finding out that Isla qualified.

"You need at least 50% genetic compatibility - and we were lucky to be told Leo was a good enough match.

"When you have a child that has cerebral palsy you're told there's no treatment or cure - so I guess I have high aspirations about the treatment now that there is finally something we can do.

"A successful treatment could allow her to develop exponentially quite quickly. She might never have been able to talk, but if the treatment goes well there's a chance she could.

"She also might be able to learn to walk much faster. Currently Isla can't sit independently, crawl or walk.

"Cerebral palsy limits her a lot. She is also non verbal, and has suspected autism which makes communication with a very frustrated little girl extremely hard.

"She loves books, especially sensory books, and loves to play outside. She really loves stroking animals like dogs and playing in water too. She just wants to be able to do what other two year olds can do.

"Hopefully the treatment will give her a fresh lease of life, even just little things like being able to play with other kids and Leo.

"At first she was not that interested in Leo, but as he's got older the two of them have started playing with the same toys and flipping pages of books they are reading together.

"It's been lovely seeing them grow closer, and hopefully the treatment will help with that too."

Isla cannot currently walk, crawl, or sit independently - the treatment could change that (Image - SWNS)

The couple aim to travel to America in two months time for Isla to undergo the $15,000 (£12,013) self-funded treatment at the world-leading Duke University Hospital in North Carolina, US.

Dad Sim said: "At the moment there is no cure for cerebral palsy at all. But it is the most common motor disability in children affecting 1 in 400 in the UK.

"It is also one of many conditions under clinical trials attempting to treat it.

"It's a very difficult and long process though - it's taken us six months and a lot of luck to qualify.

"The UK is miles behind other countries on stem cell studies, but there are now other universities and hospitals that operate globally which now offer trial treatments.

"But in the US they're very strict about matches, the blood type has to be compatible and the genetic match between the donor and patient has to be close.

"We had that in mind when we decided to have another child, and so when Leo was born in November, we made sure to save his cord blood.

Stem cells have really regenerative properties, you fire them into a child's body and you hope they replace, fix and rejuvenate cells in her body.

"The best part is it is not even a scary or extensive surgery, it's just administered via an IV drip into the bloodstream, and it only takes 20 minutes.

"The effects can be amazing.

"In Duke University's case every child has had increased gains in movement after treatment, and there are reports of children in Australia who have even been able to walk or talk."

The determined parents urge others to save their children's cord blood in case they or their children may need it in the future.

They said discovering Isla qualified for the expensive treatment was "mega" - but they need to fundraise in order to afford it.

Sim added: "We also want to raise as much awareness as possible about the issue.

"We've had around 60 to 70 families get in touch about the treatment since, and have raised over £9,000.

"I think it's because Isla is just so happy, she has such an amazing smile.

"I really want to urge all parents to freeze their child's cord blood, it might save you from dementia, Parkinson's or even cancer.

"I think we'll be surprised in the future how useful it might be. We want the treatment to be offered in the UK, but we're way off."

You can support Isla and her family HERE.

You can find her Instagram HERE.