First steps: seven-year-old from Rochdale beats illness to walk for the first time

Her parents feared they may never see her walk but a brave seven-year-old from Rochdale has proved them wrong and taken her first steps.

Ella Chadwick needed a life-saving kidney transplant a year ago after being born with a rare illness that left her in need of a frame to walk.

Now she is able to stand and walk without any help and her mum Karen Hughes is thrilled to see her fantastic leap forward.

Ella, from Whitworth in Rochdale, had both her kidneys removed after developing the rare congenital nephrotic syndrome.

Overall she has been through some 40 operations in her young life. In 2010 her dad Martin donated one of his kidneys, but her body rejected the organ.

She was initially told she would not be able to have another transplant, leaving her relying on dialysis and shortening her life expectancy.

But further tests found that gran Christina, 60, a mental health nurse from Smallbridge, could be a new donor.

Christina had no hesitation, and since the operation last May Ella has gone from strength to strength, with walking unaided being the latest in a long line of ‘firsts’.

Ella was previously on a strict diet, meaning items such as chocolate, potatoes, gravy and even bananas were off limits.

Since the transplant, she has sat down to her first proper Christmas Day dinner and had her first chocolate Easter eggs.

No longer needing to go to hospital for dialysis, she is now able to go to school every day with her friends and recently started drama lessons.

Her story has inspired friends and supporters to raise thousands for the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital.