A FIVE-year-old who suffered a life-changing stroke at birth has become an inspiration as she steps out to raise awareness about childhood stroke.

Sofia Dobson’s devastated family were told to prepare for the worst, even going so far as to baptise their newborn daughter in hospital, when she became severely ill.

The youngster’s mum, Sarah, from Latchford, recalled the moment she knew something was wrong with her baby, despite having a healthy pregnancy.

The 42-year-old said: “I’d always wanted a little girl and they just whisked her away and I thought ‘what has happened?’.

“She had a normal birth but then she got a temperature and went downhill and was on life support for two weeks.

“They thought it was meningitis or sepsis.

“When they took an MRI scan it showed that she had had a massive stroke.”

Doctors do not know what caused Sofia’s stroke and she now has cerebral palsy, epilepsy and is visually impaired.

But that doesn’t stop her from playing with her friends at Our Lady’s Catholic Primary School, far exceeding the expectations of her doctors.

Warrington Guardian:

The reception pupil also loves singing and going out on the back of her dad’s bike.

Sarah said: “Sofia didn’t walk or talk until she was three – it’s a bit ‘wait and see’ but she has proved everyone wrong.

“She has some problems walking around – it’s her right side which is affected and she has had botox in her right leg to try to straighten it out.

“When we had her we were warned she might have seizures and she had big infantile spasms.

“She’s stopped but she was on medication from seven months until now so that’s a big step.

“Sofia has missed out on things that other kids do because of appointments. She’s at that age where she is asking why she can’t do things but I have kept a diary and I’ll go through it with her when she is older.”

Warrington Guardian:

Sofia is taking part in her first Step Out for Stroke event at The Halliwell Jones Stadium on Saturday, July 20.

It is an opportunity for stroke survivors, friends and families to take part in a walk together to raise vital funds for the charity.

Sarah said: “She is also going to be making and selling cakes at school to raise money for the Stroke Association.

“It’s more about spreading awareness of childhood stroke because a lot of people don’t know about it.”