Luton’s sassy burns survivor Shamiam Arif celebrated her 10th birthday in style on Friday, courtesy of Gulliver’s.
And her lucky younger brother Shakaib – who was nine on the same day – was there to share it, along with their two little sisters, parents, aunt, uncles and four cousins.
The families said they’d had “the best day ever” at the fun theme park in Milton Keynes.
They were VIP guests last year and everyone enjoyed it so much the youngsters asked to go again.
After a phone call from the Herald&Post, they were welcomed back with open arms.
First stop was the Alpine log flume where the feisty birthday girl was first on to the ride with Shakaib and their little cousin Ayesha – who was seven last week – in hot pursuit.
There were shrieks of fear and glee as the trio plummeted down a steep drop in their log canoe and whooshed through the water at the bottom in a sea of spray, closely followed by other relatives – all screaming with excitement.
Shamiam’s little sister Monoor wailed loudest of all – the two-year-old was too small to go on most of the rides and expressed her displeasure in no uncertain terms.
But there were plenty of other attractions to amuse the tiny tot, including Lilliput Land and Toy Land.
Meanwhile Shamiam was hotfooting it to another old favourite, the Pirate Ship. This swings up and down and reaches great heights.
Last year her Aunt Farzana tried it for the first time and vowed: “Never again.”
But she was persuaded to give it another go and Shamiam – who has nerves of steel, in spite of her disabilities – had such a whale of a time she immediately queued for a second ride.
The Foxdell Junior pupil, nominated for a child of courage award, was badly burned when a candle fell into her cot when she was a baby.
She was brought to this country for life-saving treatment and has already had a series of operations and skin grafts.
Now she faces major ground-breaking surgery to insert a titanium plate in her head where her skull was burned to the lining of her brain.
Mum Tahira said: “It’s lovely to see her so happy and carefree and we are very grateful to Gulliver’s for making it possible.”
> Help us help Shamiam by making a donation to her appeal fund. Send cheques to United for the Needy (Shamiam Arif Appeal), 146 Gregory Boulevard, Nottingham NG7 5JE.
> For more information about Gulliver’s, visit www.gulliversfun.co.uk
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