Page 21 - WMPF Federation Magazine February / March 2018

Millie Bea undergoes

life-changing operation

from you all, we will be forever in your debt.”
The operation was deemed a success and
Millie now faces a long road ahead with
intensive physiotherapy.
Natalie explained: “Millie is doing really
well and you can already feel that the
tightness in her legs has gone.”
While with the Force, Natalie received
great support from West Midlands Police
Federation, the Force Benevolent Fund and
fund-raising colleagues, with many LPUs
donating the proceeds of their tuck shops to
the appeal. Friends and family members also
organised their own fund-raising ventures
and took part in a charity football match, a
70-mile sponsored bike ride.
“We are so grateful for the support we
received from everyone at West Midlands
Police,” says Natalie, “I cannot thank everyone
enough for the way in which they got behind
the fund-raising appeal and helped us get
Millie to this point. This operation will totally
transform her life.”
You can keep up with Millie’s progress on
the Millie Bea’s Walking Wish Facebook page.

Millie Bea recovering in hospital.
wo years after former It’s going to be hard work for her and a
Wolverhampton DC Natalie Hughes totally emotional time for us all but it will
T launched a £40,000 appeal to fund have such an amazing impact on Millie’s life
an operation that would enable her and future.
daughter Millie Bea to walk, the brave “I think our motto will be ‘chin up, dig in
youngster has undergone the surgery that and crack on’. We are soooo lucky to have
will transform her life. had such fantastic overwhelming support
at The Portland Hospital in London, one of “

Millie, who is now four, was born with
spastic diplegia cerebral palsy so has never
We are so grateful for the support we
been able to walk unaided. Her twin, Evan, is
unaffected.
received from everyone at West Midlands

But, on 13 January, Millie who is due to
start school in September, underwent the
selective dorsal rhizotomy (SDR) operation
for the way in which they got behind the
only a handful of hospitals to offer the Police, I cannot thank everyone enough
pioneering treatment. fund-raising appeal and helped us get
Ahead of the surgery, mum Natalie, who
left West Midlands Police last year to move Millie to this point. This operation will
to Cumbria Constabulary, wrote on the
Millie Bea’s Walking Wish Facebook page: totally transform her life.
“Millie is very excited about going to London “
to see Dr ‘Kristian’ and getting her new legs!

www.westmidspolfed.com federation February/March 2018 21