LIKE most girls her age, little Scarlett Hewitt likes playing with her sisters and friends, and is beginning to look ahead to starting 'big school'.
But the eight-year-old faces challenges in everyday life experienced by few others her age and that, unless tackled, are likely to worsen as she grows up.
Complications at birth left her suffering from cerebral palsy, meaning she cannot stand without help, suffers painful cramps and struggles with routine tasks such as getting dressed.
"She walks with a walking frame and for long distances she has to have a wheelchair," says mum Lisa Hewitt.
"She wakes through the night with cramps and muscle spasms. But she has always done well: she battles on like a little trooper and she has always got a smile on her face."
Last Saturday, the Hewitt family, of Uvedale Crescent, New Addington, were given fresh hope for Scarlett's future, after she was accepted by a leading American children's hospital for life-changing surgery that would leave her able to walk unaided.
Mum Lisa, dad John – a postman – and sisters Sienna, 7, and Saffron, 3, are now battling to raise the £65,000 they need for the procedure to go ahead in October.
The sum includes the two operations at St Louis Children's Hospital, in Missouri, flights there, after-care and Scarlett's long-term rehab back in England.
"Every parent wants their child to be independent going through adult life and if this can change her life then by all means we are going to make this happen," said full-time mum Mrs Hewitt.
"One of her main things," she added, "is when the girls play in the garden, she gets so worn out she sits and watches them.
"You can just see the look on her face, bless her. She just wants to be able to do what her sisters and friends can do."
Mr and Mrs Hewitt researched the surgery online and applied to Dr T.S Park, the St Louis surgeon who pioneered the Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy operation, to take Scarlett's case.
"Dr Park has said that [after the operation] she will walk independently within all environments here," added Mrs Hewitt.
"Her spasticity will be permanently reduced. Her sitting and standing positions will improve."
Gresham Primary student Scarlett now knows the operation is a possibility, said Mrs Hewitt, and is "very excited".
She added: "She asks me every day, 'How much money have we got to get now, Mummy?' and she says, 'Can I go to school and get them to help me walk on my own?'"
The mum-of-three said brave Scarlett, who also has a heart condition, takes her difficulties "on the chin" but is increasingly frustrated with her condition as she grows up.
Her parents fear that, without the operation, she will have to use a wheelchair all the time at secondary school, due to the longer distances involved.
Mrs Hewitt added: "It would just be fantastic to see her not be dependent on us to have to do everything for her – all the little things like getting dressed and undressed she cannot do."
Log on to www.justgiving.com/Scarlettswishtowalk to make a donation, or you can text SCAR77 and the amount to 70070
