Disabled bridesmaid surprises sister by walking down aisle at wedding

A disabled woman has stunned her bride sister - by WALKING down the aisle on her wedding day.
Thanks to six months of hard work, bridesmaid Stephanie Carfrae made the unforgettable journey to be at her sister Georgina's side.
The 23-year-old has not walked for seven years due to a mysterious degenerative condition which was only diagnosed by doctors last year.

Heroic: Stephanie Carfrae suffers from a degenerative condition

But she decided in January to surprise her sister by walking down the aisle at her wedding in July to make her day "even more special".
Stephanie's brother Adam also lives with the condition, called spastic paraplegia genome 35, which is caused by a faulty gene and is incredibly rare.

Snap: The happy family together

With the help of Kate Busby, a physiotherapist from University College Hospital in London, Stephanie began a physiotherapy course at her home to learn how to walk.
So started months of regular physio visits, with Stephanie given daily exercises to strengthen her arms and legs.
Her mother, Sue Carfrae, told our sister site Get Surrey: “Walking for Steph is not easy - she has a metal plate in her left foot to keep it stable, but her right foot is not as stable so she had to be fitted for a splint to hold it in place but the foot still drags.

Memorable: Stephanie pictured with other wedding guests and the happy couple

“The solution was to wear boots with a little heel which lifted her foot off the floor enough to take a step.
“She practised and exercised every day without fail. She also took care not to let her sister, Georgina, see her standing or walking as she wanted it to be a complete surprise.”
By June, Stephanie was ready to try walking down the aisle at St Lawrence Church in Chobham. She met her physio and began practising.

Wedding guests: Adam and Stephanie Carfrae with sister and bride Georgina and groom Gregg Wells

On the night before the wedding on July 31, there was a full wedding rehearsal with Georgina seeing her sister walking for the first time in seven years - with the whole family looking on in tears.
On the day of the wedding, the family took a video of Stephanie walking down the aisle with a broad smile on her face, supported by two bridesmaids.
Stephanie said: “The walking felt incredible, although at one point it was a bit tough as my feet met and I nearly tripped, but I remembered to take very small steps, so I felt confident. I did it.”
Georgina said: “It was so special when I found out that my little sister wanted to try and practise walking, and put up with intense physio, in order to walk down the aisle for my wedding. I always told her not to put pressure on herself, but I knew she was determined to try.
"It was truly the icing on the cake for us on the day and a true gift to be able to watch her walk down the aisle in front of me beaming. She has always been an inspiration to me, but on that day she was an inspiration to everyone and it just added to what was already an amazing and unforgettable day.”
Mum Sue added: “We are so proud of all our four children, but on this day, Steph’s determination to walk added an extra special moment to treasure on what was an amazing family occasion.”