Team Tilly over the moon with support from Keith Show for Glass tot
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
TEAM Tilly is a loving family and community campaign behind a special little girl overcoming serious challenges life has thrown at her.
Tilly Cranna (2) was born nine weeks prematurely with a brain injury and then diagnosed with cerebral palsy a week before her first birthday.
However, despite her condition, Tilly has defied the odds and continues to make progress – thanks to the love of big sister Hallie (3), mum Kerrie Baird (30), dad Barry Cranna (31) and the massive support network of family and friends around them.
The family, from Glass, have slowly come to terms with the conditions which have impacted lockdown baby Tilly and have turned their everyday hurdles into a force for positivity.
Tilly has had and will continue to require regular treatments throughout her life, following an original prognosis that she might never walk, talk or be able to feed herself.
"It took a long time to process and we struggle to come to terms with being told she would never walk or talk," said Kerrie.
"All you want for your kids is to be able to run about in the garden. We were shattered."
However, Tilly continues to amaze them with her progress and they have found a complimentary therapy to her regular NHS treatment which is providing real improvement in her condition.
Vortex wave circulation therapy was designed to treat horses and dogs, and has found to have similar health benefits for humans.
"We started doing a lot of research to give her the best chance of realising her full potential.
"There is no certainty about her future as to how she will develop physically and cognitively but we wanted to give her the best chance.
"We are feeling quite positive about the her future. We were told to expect that she wouldn't do anything but she can bear weight and is almost sitting up. Just small things, but she is defying the odds stacked against her every day."
Barry's cousin Tracey Cormack runs Central Scotland Theraplates, which uses the therapy to treat a range of conditions.
They decided to give it a try and Tilly has been getting treatment with Jen Brown who runs Highland Theraplates.
Kerrie said: "We saw an instant change in her muscle tone and she was so much more relaxed/
"We hope that using it more frequently will support bone density, muscle mass and overall tone management.
"This has offered us more hope for the future. This is a really exciting piece of kit."
To aid Tilly's progress, the family started a fundraising drive to buy their own Theraplate for home and that came together with a fundraising stall at the recent Keith Show, where Kerrie was volunteering as a horse steward, something she has done the last few years.
With the support of local businesses and sponsorship, the family ran a prize raffle. Among the prizes was a print from artist Angela Davidson from Insch.
With some cash donations and a "very generous" donation of £1000 from the NFU Mutual Keith branch, the total raised was more than £4000.
"This was more than we could ever have hoped for. This pays for the Theraplate and leaves over money to put towards Tilly's ongoing therapy and equipment needs which is amazing," added Kerrie.
"It's so heartwarming to know there are so many people supportive of and rooting for Tilly. We really do have the best people around us, the best team!"
Kerrie admitted it took a while to accept support and it was overwhelming at first, but it has lightened the load knowing there are people the family can turn to.
Not only that, but as she has learned more about Tilly's condition, Kerrie has been able to get support and help other families in a similar situation, including a number living locally.
Kerrie admitted that Tilly's situation has been challenging but also brought the family closer together in tough times.
She will face ongoing challenges, including last summer when she developed pneumonia and spent two weeks in hospital.
"It has taught us not to take anything for granted and take each day as it comes," she said.
Tilly attends the Glenrinnes Busy Bees Nursery and Strathisla Childcare Centre in Keith and loves it at both places.
The couple keep sheep, cows, ducks and chickens at their farm – a petting zoo for the children, said Kerrie.
They both still work to help pay for the ongoing treatments and therapies for Tilly; Kerrie is a site management coordinator for Diageo at Auchthroisk Distillery, Mulben and Barry is a hydraulic engineer.
Team Tilly were dressed in lovely pink tee-shirts at Keith Show supplied by friend and businesswoman Mel Foley, who has Drumnagorrach Designs
