Funds raised for baby born missing part of her brain

Iyla Jones, aged six months, was born without a corpus callosum, which connects the left and right sides of the brain and transfers motor, sensory and cognitive functions.
The lack of muscle development meant that she was unable to open her eyes until a recent operation at Great Ormond Street Hospital.
Iyla’s mother, Simone Hillier, aged 18, from Newbury, said: “The moment she was born the midwife noticed that her head was a lot smaller than it should have been, which raised a massive concern. After an MRI scan we found out she had severe brain abnormalities and were told that she would be very very disabled.”
Since the birth Miss Hillier and Iyla’s father David Jones had been to constant appointments with doctors and specialists learning about their daughter’s rare condition.
“We don’t have a clue and didn’t know about her problems but we’ve had to accept it and stumble through it really. Every day brings something different and I don’t have time to be down about it.
“She’s beaten all the odds at the moment and doing things the doctors said she wouldn’t do. She’s really happy but before the operation she was crying all the time but she’s been happy and constantly smiling since. I don’t mind if it’s a slow journey as long as we get there. I want her to have every opportunity.”
And on Saturday, 32 people took part in a sponsored walk from Speen to Thatcham Braodway to raise money for special sensory equipment to help Iyla’s development.
The walk raised more than £1,200 on the day but thousands of pounds in sponsorship money is expected to trundle in.
Miss Hillier, who organised the event, said that the amount of money and support the family had received had exceeded her expectations.
Indeed, family friend Karen Thomas said her faith in human nature had been restored after one lady had gone home to collect £20 to donate to the group after passing in her car.