The family of a young girl who is only one in a million to suffer from a rare condition say they have been overwhelmed by support.

Emmie Gizatullin, who is four, suffers from a form of skeletal dysplasia which means she is the size of a nine-month-old youngster.

She also has a cleft palate, club feet, is non-verbal and wears hearing aids and strong glasses.

Her family have been told she is not expected to live past the age of ten.

Emmie’s story has now been featured in a special video created by charity Tree of Hope to mark its 30th anniversary.

In the film Emmie’s mum Hannah, 42, dad Marat, 51, and brother Adam, 13, all appear and speak about the support they have received.

Despite her physical disabilities, Emmie can use a communication device to talk to her family and she enjoys singing.

Her devoted family has appealed for help to make her life as fulfilled as possible and pay for adaptations for their house and fund physiotherapy and hydrotherapy treatment.

This includes a lift, adapted bathroom and a room big enough for her specialist bed.

They also hope to be able to purchase a hot tub or pool to allow Emmie to have hydrotherapy and will look at getting an assistance dog for her.

Hannah said: “We don’t know everything that we are going to need for Emmie in the future but we want to be prepared.

“Right now we would really like to make it possible for her to get in and out of the garden and be able to move around it so that she can play.

“Without the surgeries which are considered too dangerous by her medical team, she will likely lose use of her limbs and potentially also her sight."

The family has already raised more than £15,000 of their £50,000 of their target thanks to support from their friends and community and the Bluebells pre-school in West Bergholt attended by Emmie.

Hannah added: “It means so much to us to have the support of so many people.

“Every penny will help us to help Emmie make the most of the precious time she has.”

To donate visit https://www.treeofhope.org.uk/my-little-sister-emmie