Award for girl aged nine not expected to live more than two days

Luna Pulido Bees with, from left, David and Carrie Grant, a guest at the event, parents Dave and Andreina, and sister Liliana

A nine-year-old girl whom doctors did not expect to live for longer than two days has been given a “determination” award for her sheer grit and drive to live life to the full.

Luna Pulido Bees has cerebral palsy, which limits her ability to move her arms and legs and means she has to use a wheelchair to get around.

But the youngster from Hanwell has not let her condition stop her from enjoying activities such as drawing, swimming and PE.

Luna’s positivity despite her physical challenges led her to winning the London Children of Courage’s determination award. She was nominated by children’s charity Variety, which found out about her when they bought her a wheelchair. She has since become an ambassador for the charity.

Her father Dave said: “We were not surprised that Luna won because she is a very headstrong young lady. She wouldn’t be here today if she wasn’t.

“Her initial prognosis was very grim indeed. We were told she would not last 48 hours, and if she did she would be a vegetable. To see where she is now shows how determined she is.”

When Luna’s mother Andreina was expecting Luna, her first child, she had a normal pregnancy. But Luna got stuck during the delivery process and was starved of oxygen for 10 minutes.

Mr Bees said: “We were not able to see Luna for quite a few hours after she was born. A counsellor told us she wouldn’t survive and there was no point resuscitating her. But her organs began to function on their own after about 24 hours, and over the next few days she got stronger and stronger. She was home within two weeks.”

She also showed her characteristic determination after surgery on her legs. She was not expected to stand or walk for over a year, but managed to get upright and moving again in less than eight months. Mr Bees said Luna relishes the independence that her lightweight £3,000 wheelchair gives her, after struggling with an NHS model.

Luna wants to become a swimming teacher or doctor when she grows up.

She was handed her award at ­a ­ceremony in Mayfair hosted by singer David Grant and his wife, vocal coach Carrie.

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