THE FUNDRAISING family of a little girl trapped in a "broken body" are refusing to give up hope for a cure.

Isabelle Barnett, from Sandy Lane, Bradford, was a perfectly healthy baby until the age of 13-months when she stopped saying 'Daddy' and withdrew into a silent world of her own, rejecting her toys and wringing her tiny fingers.

With the help of well-wishers, her courageous family have raised more than £3,500 so far on a Gofundme page to help scientists keep searching for a treatment that will bring her back to them.

It took Isabelle's 28-year-old mum Jenny Barnett repeated visits to the GP and months of waiting to see consultant paediatricians at Airedale General Hospital before she eventually got the devastating news that a random faulty chromosome meant her baby girl had Retts Syndrome, affecting her brain.

"Our world was suddenly turned upside down. Bam out of the blue it struck and robbed our perfect baby girl of being able to speak, walk or use her hands. It was devastating," said Mrs Barnett, who has two other daughters, Maisy, aged five, and Matilda, who is three.

"In the end it was a community paediatrician who identified it as Retts. She just told us to read up on it and that's what we've done. There is no cure or treatment at the moment but we will not give up hope.

"We found out about a charity called Reverse Retts which supports scientists all over the world. They have found a way of reversing Retts in a lab mouse so we believe there is a chance they could do the same for humans one day. We won't give up on Isabelle or our hope for a cure," she added.

The family has already raised £3,500 on a Gofundme page and more support is coming in from the local community, including a £300 donation from Crossflatts Primary School's nativity.

Retts Syndrome can cause severe physical and mental disability and begins in early childhood. It affects approximately one in every 10,000 to 12,000 girls and is only rarely ever seen in boys. Complications go on to include seizures, epilepsy, breathing problems and curvature of the spine.

Isabelle uses a frame to help her stand, she has physiotherapy and goes for specialist play therapy which her mum and dad Simon copy at home.

"Doctors have told me she will never walk, talk or be able to use her hands purposefully but we will do everything we can to get her there. She is our inspiration, our love and our drive," said Mrs Barnett, who works in a bank.

"Isabelle is still a happy baby. Her giggles melt my heart. She wants to do things but her body is broken and won't let her."

The family is planning a host of fundraising events in the New Year and will split money they raise between Reverse Retts and an appeal to buy a £15,000 Gaze machine to help Isabelle communicate by looking at pictures on a computerised screen.

"We wouldn't ever be able to afford that machine ourselves so we hope to get as much help from people as possible," said Mrs Barnett.

Kelsea Little from GoFundMe.com said: “The Barnett family’s GoFundMe campaign is incredibly inspiring. We hope a cure can eventually be found to help Isabelle and any other children suffering from Rett syndrome.”

To make a donation go to gofundme.com/IsabellesHope