Rebecca

<p>Sue and Nick Pye were a happy loving couple. They were married in September 1988 and planned to start a family within two years. Sadly they discovered they could not have children of their own so decided to adopt. In December 1995 a six month old baby girl was placed with them and they were overjoyed. Their family was complete.</p><p>Rebecca was a lovely little girl whose radiant smile captured the hearts of everyone she met and her parents doted on her. When she started school her future looked bright - but then illness struck. </p><p>It was the beginning of a nightmare for the family and a desperate battle for Rebecca as the medical profession baffled at first over her symptoms eventually arrived at a diagnosis that she was suffering from a rare disease in which life expectancy was limited. The news devastated her parents. In a short time their daughter deteriorated to the point where she was left fighting for her life and doctors told Sue and Nick to prepare themselves for the worst. </p><p>Rebecca was suffering from Leigh Syndrome a disease noted for its degradation in one's ability to control movements caused by lesions on the brain stem. </p><p>Supported by family and friends Sue and Nick kept vigil at Alder Hey Children's Hospital Liverpool for three months as their little girl just four and a half fought for survival. But what doctors hadn't bargained for was Rebecca's character and spirit. She clung to life often being kept alive by a ventilator but she fought the incurable disease sufficiently to return home. </p><p>Despite many setbacks Rebecca continued to confound medical opinion and live life albeit with restrictions to the full. Hers is an incredible and inspirational story . . . </p>