Young Shropshire dancer told she would never walk amazes doctors
Little Mia Smith was not expected to live when she was born – and if she did, her parents were told she would not walk.
But the remarkable seven-year-old has continued to amaze doctors.
And now she is among a group of 30 youngsters from a Shropshire dance school to win an award for excellence.
Mia suffers from Vacterl Association, a disorder that affects many body systems and has forced her to undergo major surgery. But she has an infectious zest for life and is an enthusiastic member of the Zoe Poole BEM School of Dance.
She achieved distinction in the British Ballet Organisation primary modern dance exam, and was just one mark off distinction in the primary classical ballet exam.
Among the other dancers to get impressive results was six-year-old Eleanor Plews, who achieved distinction in both the exams.
Zoe Poole, who is a tutor at the school in Loggerheads, near Market Drayton, said she was very proud of the group.
"Mia was born with an incredibly complicated syndrome," she said. "
She has had major spinal surgery and metal pins put in her back to support her spine.
"She has had open heart surgery and is waiting for more spinal surgery. It is all connected with the syndrome she has got. It affects multiple organs in the body. Mia is an inspiration to every child. She only started dancing in July and she never stops smiling."
Lauren Davies, Mia's mother, who lives in Market Drayton with her and her two-year-old brother Jensen, said: "She has always wanted to do dancing but was never allowed to because of her surgery. She only started dancing at the end of the summer and I am surprised at how far she has come.
"She now wants to start the musical theatre stuff like singing."
Zoe said Eleanor is one of the youngest in the country to be working in grade one ballet, adding: "It is a fantastic achievement for her."
She added: "There were 30 children who were in that exam session. There were just 10 marks between the highest and lowest marks in the group.
"I am very proud of them all. All the marks were excellent."
Kevin Plews, Eleanor's father, said: "She is only just six years old and this is a massive achievement for somebody so young."
