I became my sister's carer at six - she amazes me every day

One of Sarah Lilly's earliest memories is pushing her younger sister Vicky's wheelchair aged four. She became her second carer two years later.

Vicky was diagnosed with both quadriplegic and athetoid cerebral palsy at birth, and Sarah, the eldest of four siblings, recalls early life being a "constant battle".

"I remember pushing Vicky and my brothers being pushed by my mum in a double buggy," she says.

"It was all hands on deck."

The condition, caused by a lack of oxygen to the brain during birth, affects all four of Vicky's limbs and the family had to quickly adapt to raise a child with complex needs.

But as they navigated challenges together the sisters forged an unbreakable bond, with Sarah also working at the day centre Vicky attends.

Over the last four decades Sarah has watched her younger sister overcome hurdles most people will not experience in their lifetime.

They include a traumatic experience during lockdown at an independent living facility which led the family to contact police.

But in her 11 years working at Cerebral Palsy Midlands, in Harborne, Sarah has seen Vicky achieve things they initially never thought possible - including gold medals for dancing and a love of karaoke.

"I see an independent woman who is very capable despite having profound disabilities," says Sarah, beaming with pride.

Growing up in Birmingham, their parents Allyson and Malcolm Lilly had to navigate inconsistent carers, funding, equipment and therapies.

"My dad spent most of his working life as a boiler operator at Cadbury's in Bournville working shifts to provide for us all," Sarah recalls.

While cerebral palsy is not degenerative, as Vicky ages she experiences increased stiffness, fatigue and secondary health challenges.

She has speech and language impairment but is able to communicate via body language, pointing and communication aids such as books which help her to indicate her thoughts and feelings.

"When words are difficult, Vicky has a way with her facial expressions, the way she moves around, her independence with her chair - she has a way of letting her feelings known," says Sarah.

It was when Vicky was 18 and leaving special education that the family faced another round of challenges.

"Support dropped off significantly," says Sarah.

"The transition from children's to adult services was extremely difficult, and we found there was very little in place to support young adults with complex needs.

"She went from structured education and support into a situation where she was largely at home with our parents."

What followed was years of inconsistency with carers who sometimes did not turn up and responsibility fell onto their mother.

The physical challenge of caring for Vicky has left her with chronic pain, rheumatoid arthitis and fibromyalgia.