The mum of a four-year-old girl from Ellesmere Port with a severe bone disease says that a new-found love for the Cheshire Phoenix basketball team and an unlikely friendship with one of its star players has helped transform her daughter's life.
Born with brittle bone disease, Millie Simpson had broken 30 bones while she was in the womb and her parents Stevie and Tyler were told that their daughter stood little chance of survival and were even offered a termination.
But she defied the odds and has managed to go from strength to strength and has forged a special bond with American Nix forward Kinu Rochford, a player who has endured personal tragedy in recent months following the death of his unborn son at seven months to cancer.
Millie, who struggles to find activities to take part in due to her condition and the high risk of her getting hurt, has become a regular at the Phoenix this season, something that her mum Stevie says has been a huge positive for her daughter.
“Millie can find some things hard to focus on but she loves going the basketball and cheering on the Phoenix and she just adores Kinu,” said Stevie.
“They have just taken to each other and they have forged such a lovely bond. He is her favourite player and he just loves her. He takes so much time to come over and talk to her and spend time with her. She just lights up when she sees him. Going to the basketball and seeing her smile and have so much fun has been such a fantastic thing for her and us as a family. We go every single week now.
“The club have been fantastic. Kinu, Jordan Williams (Phoenix player) and James Brice (Phoenix general manager) even came round to hand out some free tickets and just wanted to see Millie and spend some time with her.
“Kinu is such a charismatic and genuinely lovely person. Some people see Millie in the wheelchair and they worry about holding her and things like that because of her condition. But it doesn't faze Kinu at all. He loves to hold her and the bond they have formed really is something special and it means a lot to Millie and I think it does to Kinu too.”
New Yorker Rochford dedicated his side's maiden win at the Cheshire Oaks Arena on Sunday to wheelchair-user Millie and says that meeting her has helped him through his darkest moments and inspired him to help his Nix side return to form.
“My little friend Millie, I just love her and she is my inspiration every time at the arena and she's the reason why I want to win,” said Rochford.
“I lost my little one to cancer and was having a rough time out here, but when I met her and saw her fight and how she manages to keep a smile on her face, she is my hero. She has faith and she shows me that any problem you have you can still enjoy life.
“It been really rough and everyday it's hard to get by, but when I see Millie I thank god for my blessings and try to help others.”
