LITTLE miracle, Poppy Harper-Unwin, has defied all the medical odds. Four-year-old Poppy, who suffers from a rare form of muscular dystrophy, spent Christmas Day with her parents Dave and Julie Harper at their Bradley Barton, Newton Abbot, home. That too was a miracle. Her condition deteriorated on December 23, and in Torbay Hospital she was diagnosed as 'brain dead'. 'They said she was in the terminal stage and we were horrified. We had been so looking forward to sitting with her at home on Christmas Day and giving her a cuddle,' said Mrs Harper. The couple asked if they could take her home for Christmas Day and the hospital agreed. 'She opened one eye and on Boxing Day she opened the other. She got her cuddle a few days late. 'The bottom line now is that she is better than she has been for months,' said her mum. Poppy, who will be five next month, is fully ventilated and has her nursing team at her home. They are currently weaning the ventilation down. 'The medical people just cannot believe her. She is a total miracle. It is amazing and it is a brilliant new year. 'At the moment she has her nights and days mixed up and tends to be awake at night. 'She has been out for a cuddle every day. If she continues to remain stable we will try to get a car to take her out for a drive when the weather warms up. Obviously, though, we just have to take everything very slowly,' she said. The rotating mattress, two thirds of which was paid for thanks to the special cabaret night at Highweek Family and Social Club organised by Luke Turpin, who works in Newton Abbot's Pizza Cafe, has proved a real benefit. Currys, of Newton Abbot, also gave Poppy a DVD player and the local Muscular Dystrophy Group gave her a large television which have both given her a great deal of pleasure. 'David and I would like to thank everyone for their support, from the nursing team to those who have held special events to raise money, as well as to all those who have shown their concern and sent us messages. 'Everyone has been marvellous,' said Mrs Harper.
