Girl with Adams-Oliver syndrome trying to become a dancer

A four-year-old girl born without any toes is trying to fulfil her dream of becoming a dancer.

Scarlett Wright is one of only 130 people in the world born with Adams-Oliver syndrome (AOS) – a condition that means her hands and feet will never grow.

Occurring when bones don’t fuse at birth, it also left the toddler missing a finger on her right hand and a permanent bald patch that she covers with a daisy headband.

But after seeing a wax work of ballerina and Strictly Come Dancing judge Darcey Bussell last year, she become obsessed with dancing.

Despite only being able to walk in personalised shoes specially moulded to her feet, she has been attending lessons bare foot.

Now her parents, Kershwin Barlow, 25, and Jonathan Wright, 28, are trying to raise money to buy their daughter customised ballet shoes to realise her dreams.

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Scarlett Wright is one of only 160 people in the world born with Adams-Oliver syndrome – a condition that means her hands and feet will never grow

Mrs Barlow, Scarletts’ full-time carer, who lives in Talke, Staffordshire, said: ‘We can’t believe how she’s taken to it.

‘She is so lovely and outgoing and won’t let anything stop her, but she has to be so brave to do ballet.

‘We went to a wax works in September last year and when she saw Darcey Bussell she was in awe.

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‘She kept asking about her, and when I explained she was a ballet dancer Scarlett watched all the videos of her performing.

‘As she watched them she started dancing in her room, and begged us to let her go to dance classes.’

Unfortunately, the first two dance classes the family came across warned the moves would likely be too complex for Scarlett.

The syndrome, which occurs when bones don’t fuse at birth, left the toddler missing her toes and a finger on her right hand

Despite only being able to walk in personalised shoes specially moulded to her feet, she has been attending ballet lessons bare foot

She became obsessed with dancing after seeing a wax work of ballerina and Strictly Come Dancing judge Darcey Bussell (pictured) last year

However, they eventually found a dance teacher who agreed to take her on, and Mrs Barlow says she has ‘fitted in so well’.

‘We are over the moon that someone has helped make her little dreams come true which is why we are fund-raising for the troupe,’ she added. 

WHAT IS AOS?

Since the first case in 1945, there have only been a further 130 recorded in medical literature.

It is characterised by a combination of defects – mainly in the formation of the scalp and the skull.

But it can also cause abnormalities in limb development, such as missing toes and fingers.

Scientists are unsure as to the exact cause of the syndrome, but believe it could be to do with a defect in the vascular development.

Treatment is designed to address the symptoms, and is often dependent on the severity of the syndrome.

Skin defects can often be left to heal, but surgery could be required to manage larger abnormalities. 

Source: Contact A Family 

The NHS can only provide one pair of shoes to Scarlett, who also has a heart murmur, that are specially fitted – her school shoes.

But she needs one pair of shoes for performing and another for training, which each cost over £100.

Because the condition causes her pain, she is unable to dance for very long.

However, due to her love for ballet, she is willing to put up with the discomfort, Mrs Barlow added. 

‘It’s her birthday on Monday and it would be incredible if she could have the dance shoes by then,’ she said.

‘She’s really struggling with a lot of things but she just gets on with it even though she’s in agony with her feet by the end of the day.

‘As a mother, it’s difficult to watch. No-one wants their child to have a disability, but it makes it easier because she’s so positive. If it wasn’t for that, I don’t know if I could cope. 

‘There’s no-one who doesn’t fall in love with her, she’s just got one of those faces.’

Owner of Lil Gems, the class that Scarlett now attends, Anne Donaldson, 69, said: ‘I think everybody should have a chance. 

‘Scarlett is a lovely little girl. She’s beautiful and she just fitted in.

‘She loves it and even tries to keep up with the older ones. For all she goes through in life, she is lovely and she’s part of our team.’