Grovedale nine-year-old Narkiah Bishop battles multiple rare conditions

Narkiah Bishop was born with a virus that has affected every aspect of her life.

Nine-year-old Narkiah Bishop contracted congenital CMV.

When Chloe Rees experienced flu-like symptoms while she was 28 weeks pregnant, doctors told her not to worry and reassured her that her unborn baby remained happy and healthy.

While Ms Rees’ pregnancy continued as normal, when she gave birth to Narkiah Bishop it was soon clear something was wrong.

Narkiah was covered in a rash, had difficulty feeding and experienced multiple seizures just days after birth.

She was quickly diagnosed with congenital cytomegalovirus and transferred to a Melbourne hospital where she underwent six weeks of intensive treatment.

The viral infection left Narkiah with serious brain damage, cerebral palsy, bilateral hearing loss and a global development delay.

The now nine-year-old is wheelchair bound, non-verbal, solely peg fed and her life expectancy is unknown.

“The biggest effect has been on the brain,” Ms Rees said.

“Instead of the brain a having symmetrical ridge, it has flat spots with big dips, fluid pockets and calcified arteries.”

Wade and Chloe Rees with Narkiah and Memphis Bishop. The family is fundraising for a wheelchair accessible car. Picture: Alan Barber

Ms Rees said her daughter also suffered a bleed the size of a 50 cent piece.

She said her daughter’s life had been filled with “back-to-back hospital admissions”.

Now, Narkiah is a bubbly “girly girl” who loves attending classes at Barwon Valley School, has a crush on Harry Styles and a “wicked sense of humour”.

“She is just the queen of sass,” Ms Rees said.

She is about to get an electric wheelchair, funded through the NDIS, for the first time.

But, Ms Rees said this would present new challenges because it would not fit in the family’s car, making them reliant on taxi services.

The Grovedale family, along with Narkiah’s carer Jo Turner, have started a fundraiser in a bid to secure a wheelchair friendly vehicle.

“She’s just started hydrotherapy and the pool is now her happy place,” Ms Rees said.

“Being able to go in a wheelchair accessible car would be a god send.”

Ms Rees said while Narkiah’s future was uncertain, her daughter had “always come out fighting”.

“Me being her mum, I have the ultimate belief that she is the strongest person in the world,” she said.

“Our main focus is just making sure that Narkiah’s quality is life is there and the ultimate goal is to be able to take Narkiah to see things and experience the world while she can.”

Ms Turner said the family’s access to a wheelchair friendly car would make “every aspect of their life easier.”

“It would take the pressure off and allow them to breathe,” she said.

A Disco Bingo event will held at Clairvaux Catholic School on November 10, from 7.30pm with tickets available at trybooking.com/events/landing/1116730.

The community can also donate by searching for Wheelchair Accessible Car for Narkiah on Go Fund Me.

Originally published as Grovedale nine-year-old Narkiah Bishop battles multiple rare conditions