A MOTHER has set up a dance group for children with disabilities after her daughter sustained a severe brain injury from a cardiac arrest.

Amanda Evans, from the Crowle area of Worcester has helped to start a Happy Steps dance group for two year olds to pre-school children with physical disabilities.

She said: "My daughter Elaina has had seizures since she was four months old but was developing normally even though these seizures were regularly lasting over an hour.

Last summer we were looking forward to her starting ballet classes with Happy Steps but three days after her second birthday Elaina had a seizure that changed her life forever.

"During her seizure she had a cardiac arrest, we still don't know why, and she was 'gone' for eight minutes.

"It's a miracle that we got her back at all.

"Elaina was transferred to Intensive Care in Stoke and we waited for her to wake up.

"After five days they were concerned that she wasn't recovering like she should so they did a scan and found that Elaina had sustained a severe brain injury from the cardiac arrest and that they didn't know if she would live.

"Elaina is such a fighter and she did live, learnt to breath on her own and is working very hard to make very slow but nevertheless progress and we are so proud of what she achieves and battles every day.

"We have found out that Elaina has a form of epilepsy called Dravet Syndrome which is a catastrophic, drug resistant form of epilepsy.

"I have taught children with special needs for 14 years and I know how hard it is to access activities that mainstream children do and I wanted Elaina to do what her sister did, after all why shouldn't a little girl be able to dance.

"I approached Happy Steps and asked if they would be willing to run a preschool dance class for children with physical disabilities and they were so eager, they have been amazing."

The first meeting takes place on Friday September 15 from 1pm to 1.30pm at Crowle Parish Hall, Church Road, Crowle, sessions cost £4.

For more information, contact Amanda Evans at littlemissbetty1@aol.com