A video of a young girl with cerebral palsy taking her first steps without using a walker has gone viral. And once you watch, it’s not hard to see why.
Six-year-old Love Johnson became her mother’s “hero” last week when she miraculously strutted across the room for the first time ever. In the video, captured by the girl’s proud mother, Lovely Johnson, her expression is that of pure joy and amazement.
“Most of you know my daughter has cerebral palsy and needs her Walker to get around,” Lovely Johnson posted on Facebook last week. “She decided to get up and try walking without her walker and braces. My hero is not someone older than me it’s my 6 year old princess.”
The video has received 1.7 million views and 38,000 shares since it was posted Friday.
“Her lil brother was by her side every step of the way. BEAUTIFUL!!!!” wrote one Facebook user.
“This moment felt like a dream come true,” Lovely Johnson told CNN on Monday. “I looked at her the way I looked at her when I gave birth to her. My heart was racing. I saw how excited my daughter was, and I knew a new chapter was about to begin.”
Cerebral palsy is a congenital disorder that affects a person’s movement, muscle tone, and posture. The symptoms can be lifelong, but in some rare cases, individuals can see marked improvement.
Johnson told CNN that for the first three years of Love’s life, her doctor noted delays in her development. At age 4, she was officially diagnosed with cerebral palsy. For the past year, she has had to rely completely on the help of her wheelchair and walker.
“Mom, I can now walk like the other kids,” Love reportedly told her mom last week after her amazing achievement.
“She asked me to record her. Because she felt and knew she could do it,” Johnson said. “She’s a very independent and intelligent girl and worked so hard for this moment.”