Amy Ellis-Somerville cannot walk, talk or see but her parents are determined to improve her condition by taking her to swim with dolphins in Florida.

The seven-year-old has been brain damaged since an early age and suffers from epilepsy.

Her condition has deteriorated in recent years to the point where she now needs 24-hour care.

Her parents, Debbie and Mark, of Orchard Road, Burgess Hill, now want to raise money to take Amy to a therapy centre in Florida.

Five years ago, they enrolled Amy on a home therapy programme for two years which she seemed to respond to.

They encouraged Amy to practice repetitive movements twice a day, every day and she even began to say a few words.

Mrs Ellis-Somerville said: "It wasn't a cure but it did seem to help. She became very sociable and was starting to say words to the extent that she could fill in gaps to nursery rhymes that we sang, could count from one to 20 and could recite the alphabet.

"You would almost have thought there was nothing wrong with her.

"We felt we had to try everything. The treatment stopped because I had my son, James and Amy started school. Also it was very expensive and we couldn't afford it."

In the meantime her parents tried a range of therapies to continue Amy's improvement, but to no avail.

Mrs Ellis-Somerville said: "As the years have gone by and the epilepsy has become worse and harder to control, she has lost all of these skills. She is in her own world most of the time and is quite miserable sometimes.

"She's quite withdrawn and she just tends to lay curled up in ball all day. If I sit and think about it too much it would make me go bonkers, so I've just got to get on with it.

"We heard about dolphin therapy in Florida and know families who have taken their own special child with positive results."

Now Amy's parents and friends are desperate to raise the £10,000 needed to take her to Therapy Centre in the Florida Keys.

Children are encouraged to say a word before being allowed to swim next to the dolphins and Mr and Mrs Ellis-Somerville hope this will be the incentive Amy needs.

Mrs Ellis-Somerville, who has been trying to raise funds for months, said: "We feel that Amy deserves the right to be given every chance in her little life and if this therapy helps in any way then it would be worth every penny spent.

"Any help would be greatly appreciated as we love our little girl and will do anything to make her life that little bit better.

"Despite her disabilities, she's a beautiful child and we just think of her as our Amy.

"It obviously affects us all. Fortunately my husband and I have a very strong relationship and support each other. Amy is just part of our life and she goes everywhere with us.

"Her three-year-old brother James accepts her. The other children on the close accept her too and come round to play with her sometimes, but as to whether she understands what they're saying, I don't know."

Amy attends Court Meadow school in Cuckfield, where she receives physiotherapy and James goes to a playgroup twice a week.

They have never been abroad as a family.

Mrs Ellis-Somerville explained: "I wanted to take the children abroad but if I think about it I worry about something happening while we're over there or about whether we'll be able to get a ground floor apartment."

The couple have already raised £2,000 for Amy's trip to Florida with the help of family and friends who have rallied round with garden parties and sponsored bike rides.

They hope to raise more with the launch of this appeal to take Amy to Florida next year.

To make a donation call Debbie Ellis-Somerville on 01444 871837.

Report by Ruth Tierney