Help me see: Little Dakota's Easter wish for gift of sight

Wednesday, March 26, 2008

For Wilma and Darren Clarke's dream is to bring their daughter, Dakota, 5,000 miles to China for revolutionary treatment which could help her see for the first time.

But £30,000 is needed to help transform the life of the almost completely blind child - with a series of stem cell injections in Xiashan, southern China.

Dark haired and beautiful Dakota was born in April 2006 with an ultra rare brain condition called Septo-optic Dysplasia - which has left her with a multitude of problems, including growth deficiencies, weak muscles, seizures and severe bouts of dehydration.

The lack of a pituitary gland means that Dakota is tiny for her age.

She has to have regular hormone and steroid medication, leaving her unable to become a mum when she gets older.

However, in spite of all the potentially life threatening difficulties, little Dakota is still a delight to her doting mum and dad - as is eight-year-old son, Jake, who lives with a number of behaviour disorders.

Mum Wilma admitted that Dakota can drain the couple's energies - staying awake for up to 72 hours at a stretch.

But as they played together, the Newtownabbey mum vowed that she and Darren would do all in their power to give Dakota the best quality of life possible.

Said Wilma: "During her first two weeks, we nearly lost her three or four times because her wee lungs hadn't developed properly and her breathing was so bad. Her sodium levels were poor and she was also very jaundiced.

"After four weeks, we were called into a room along with some eye specialists. All I can literally remember is them telling us that Dakota was blind. I couldn't tell you one thing after that. I was in tears and in complete shock."

Dakota eventually left Antrim Area Hospital after two months. But Wilma reckons that her only daughter has had to spend more than 14 months of her short life in hospital.

Last autumn, Wilma discovered a US based support group for families coping with SOD - Septo-optic Dysplasia - and read with excitement about a young American girl whose sight had been dramatically improved, thanks to stem cell treatment in China.

Said Wilma: "I found out that there is a little girl in the USA called Rylea, who has the same condition as Dakota. After the stem cell treatment, she is now able to see outlines and make out facial features.

"There is no treatment like this in the UK. So we just have to get Dakota to China."

Dad Darren explained that the stem cell treatment should be administered before Dakota reaches the age of five.

Fundraising only began three weeks ago. But already a variety of events are being organised and collection boxes have been put into a number of Spar shops in the Newtownabbey area. People can also help by donating online at a special Dakota Clarke website.

Added Wilma: "We know that, even if Dakota has this treatment, she is not going to have perfect eyesight, far from it.

"But if she was able to see outlines, make out faces and get around the house unaided when she is older, that would make such a massive difference to her life.

"This treatment in China is offering a chance to make life better for her. We want to do as much as we possibly can for her. We just want to give her that chance."

Online donations to help Dakota see can be made at www.babydakota.org .