Girl just wants to be able to smile

A CHRISMAS wish could literally put a smile on the face of one brave little girl if it comes true.

Cerys Coy (seven), of Messingham Road, Scunthorpe, has entered the Scunthorpe Telegraph competition, Christmas Wishes.

Her entry reads: "This Christmas my wish is to smile properly for the first time."

Cerys, a pupil at Oakfield Primary school, was born with Moebius Syndrome – a form of facial paralysis caused by damage to the fifth and sixth cranial nerve.

Cerys has never been able to make simple facial expressions like a smile or even move her eyes from side to side.

But following several operations to replace the nerve and muscle in her cheek, a surgeon told Cerys she might be able to smile in time for Christmas.

Her mum, Lindsey, said: "She went to see a plastic surgeon in Leeds, he did surgery on her to improve the nerve and muscle in her cheek, and with exercises and physiotherapy they told her hopefully she should be able to smile by Christmas."

Cerys said: "I've never smiled properly before. If I won I would probably share the prize with my family.

"I would buy something for my mum, dad and sister Pheobie and maybe my friends, for myself I would buy something very nice, something from High School Musical."

For the full story, buy today's Scunthorpe Telegraph.