By NATALIE GALLENTI
A BACCHUS Marsh toddler struggling with a debilitating disease has been given a new lease on life.
Little Sienna Cordell, who featured on the front page of Star on 16 July, was diagnosed with cerebral palsy as an infant and has spent most of her life in and out of hospital.
During this time, her parents Briohny and Brad Cordell, who have another four children, have spent years hoping to gain access to a treatment that might improve the life of their beloved daughter.
Now the family has a reason to celebrate after Sienna was accepted into a program which trials the innovative TheraSuit treatment from the United States. The little battler began treatment yesterday, to the absolute joy of family and friends.
The TheraSuit is a bio-mechanical suit used to increase feedback to the brain and enhance movement and is at the cutting edge of therapeutic treatment of cerebral palsy.
Close family-friend Jenny Kearney said the family was “delighted” upon being accepted into the program and even happier when they found out it would be held in Melbourne. Sienna has also been accepted into a second session next year.
When speaking to Star in July, Briohny said the treatment would give the family “hope” and “could make life a little easier for Sienna.”
However, the program costs $9000 and having already spent thousands of dollars, including over $20,000 on corrective eye surgery, the family is feeling the financial pressure.
That is why the community has stepped in once again to lend a hand and help cover some of the cost of the treatment.
Ms Kearney said her family, along with other close friends, will be participating in an Ironman Triathlon on 23 November at Genesis Fitness Centre in Melton South. The group will be riding 180kms, running 42kms, and swimming 5kms.
“None of us are athletes, and we will all be challenged to complete our events, but that is nothing to the challenges Sienna will have to face as she grows,” she told Star.
Ms Kearney said while the family already had a host of businesses on board including Waterford Estate, Marshall Engineering, Bridgestone Tyres, Darley Bearings, Don Watson Transport, Lerderderg Chiropractic, Grant St Physio, and Rodon Transport, they were still looking for more.
Genesis Fitness Centre will be running some extra activities on the day to help with fund-raising.
Anyone who wishes to help with sponsorship can contact Jenny Kearney on 0408 104 155.
A Facebook page dedicated to the toddler’s plight has been created and can be found at Sienna – one step at a time.
